[Regulation of metabolic activity of intracerebellar nuclei]

The metabolic activity of the intracerebellar nuclei was studied in the cat, using the radioautographic method of marking active brain structures with 14C-2-deoxyglucose. Electrical stimulation of afferent fibers in the muscle nerve of an extrinsic eye muscle was used to activate mossy and climbing cerebellar afferents. A heavy bilateral labelling of the posterior parts of the fastigial nuclei was consistently obtained compared to controls. This result could no longer be obtained after ablation or inactivation of the cerebellar cortex overlying this part of the fastigial nuclei.