Field potentials induced in the ambiguous nucleus by stimulation of the recurrent and superior laryngeal nerves

Abstract

Field potentials in the ambiguous nucleus induced by stimulation of the recurrent, superior laryngeal and vagus nerves have been recorded in the anesthetized cat.Stimulation of the ipsilateral recurrent nerve induced a positive-negative-positive antidromic field potential in the ambiguous nucleus indicating a close-field organization of laryngeal motoneurons, which showed a preferential projection of their dendritic trees in dorso-medial and ventro-lateral directions.Superior laryngeal nerve stimulation induced the sequential synaptic activation of laryngeal motoneurons.Besides laryngeal motoneurons activation, stimulation of the vagus nerve also induced the antidromic invasion of a distinct population of efferent neurons with a latency longer than those of laryngeal motoneurons.