Caudal pontine reticular nucleus

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Caudal pontine reticular nucleus
Details
Identifiers
Latin nucleus reticularis pontis caudalis
NeuroNames 566
NeuroLex ID birnlex_792
TA98 A14.1.05.502
TA2 5949
FMA 72469
Anatomical terms of neuroanatomy

The caudal pontine reticular nucleus or nucleus reticularis pontis caudalis is a portion of the reticular formation, composed of gigantocellular neurons.

In rabbits and cats it is exclusively giant cells, however in humans there are normally sized cells as well. In rodents, it has been shown to play a role in the acoustic startle response.[ citation needed ]

The caudal pontine reticular nucleus is rostral to the gigantocellular reticular nucleus and is located in the caudal pons.[ citation needed ]

The caudal pontine reticular nucleus has been known to mediate head movement, in concert with the gigantocellular nucleus and the superior colliculus. [1]

The neurons in the dorsal half of this nucleus fire rhythmically during mastication, and in an anesthetized animal it is possible to induce mastication via electrical stimulation of the nucleus reticularis pontis caudalis or adjacent areas of the gigantocellular nucleus. [2]

The caudal pontine reticular nucleus is also thought to play a role in the grinding of teeth during sleep. The region also suppresses muscle tone during REM sleep, activates eye movements, and decreases the sensory input to the cerebral cortex, specifically the primary and sensory somatosensory cortices.[ citation needed ]

References

  1. ↑ Sasaki, Shigeto; Yoshimura, Kazuya; Naito, Kimisato (2004). "The neural control of orienting: role of multiple-branching reticulospinal neurons". Brain Mechanisms for the Integration of Posture and Movement. Progress in Brain Research. Vol. 143. pp. 383–389. doi:10.1016/S0079-6123(03)43036-7. ISBN   978-0-444-51389-2. PMID   14653181.
  2. ↑ Scott, G.; Westberg, K. G.; Vrentzos, N.; Kolta, A.; Lund, J. P. (May 2003). "Effect of lidocaine and NMDA injections into the medial pontobulbar reticular formation on mastication evoked by cortical stimulation in anaesthetized rabbits". European Journal of Neuroscience. 17 (10): 2156–2162. doi:10.1046/j.1460-9568.2003.02670.x. PMID   12786982.


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