Journal of Neurophysiology, Vol 57, Issue 4 938-961, Copyright © 1987 by APS

ARTICLES

Properties of proprioceptive neurons in the cuneate nucleus of the cat

D. J. Surmeier and A. L. Towe

Fifty-two slowly adapting proprioceptive neurons in the cuneate nucleus of chloralose-anesthetized cats were studied. Recordings were made from 3 mm rostral to the obex to 5 mm caudal. The highest densities of proprioceptive neurons were found above and more than 3 mm caudal to the obex. Analysis of the spike trains produced with the forelimb held fixed revealed three basic periodic patterns. Neurons exhibiting these patterns were partitioned into three groups, referred to as the A, B, and C classes. Class A neurons (42%; 22/52) produced regular spike trains that were qualitatively similar to muscle spindle fibers. Interval distributions for this class were typically unimodal and slightly positively skewed. Adjacent intervals were frequently positively correlated. Spectral analysis suggested that 91% of class A spike trains had one to two periodic components. Class B neurons (21%; 11/52) had additional spikes interposed in their periodic discharge; these "interrupting" spikes did not significantly alter the timing of the dominant periodic discharge. Interval distributions were typically bimodal and adjacent intervals were negatively correlated. Spectral analysis suggested that two or more periodic components were present in their spike trains. Class C neurons (36%; 26/52) had spike trains with a basic rhymicity, but when this specific discharge was interrupted, the subsequent interval was near modal length; thus, they were "reset." Interval distributions were usually multimodal and adjacent intervals were frequently negatively correlated. Spectral analysis suggested that C spike trains usually had four or more periodic components. Estimates of information-carrying capacity of each class using a mean rate code and those of primary muscle spindle fibers suggested that a sizable information loss may occur in synaptic transmission. This potential loss was smaller for A-neurons (40%) than for B- (69%) or C-neurons (64%). Electrical stimulation of cutaneous structures influenced 55% (22/52) of the sample. All were members of the B and C classes. Responses were typically biphasic. The cutaneous receptive fields nearly always included a portion of the forepaw. No relationship was found between movement sensitivity and receptive field topography. Contralateral input was found in half (10/20) the neurons tested.

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