A dynamic and recurrent artificial neural network was used to investigate the functional properties of firing patterns observed in the primary motor (M1) and the primary somatosensory (S1) cortex of the behaving monkey during control of precision grip force. In the behaving monkey it was found that neurons in M1 and in S1 increase their firing activity with increasing grip force, as do the intr...

CGRP, which coexists with acetylcholine in trigeminal motoneurons, could be one of the regulatory anterograde factors responsible for the enhanced expression of AChR subunits in neuromuscular junction. It has been also shown that low level of thyroid hormone plasma concentration has influence on the transitional development of muscle fibers and related motoneurons through a sever reduction in A...

This is a brief review of the literature focused on the articles that formed the basis for the classification of the nerve fibers. Mention is also made to the origin of the nomenclature of the different motoneurons (alpha, beta and gamma).

introduction: the thyroid hormones have profound effects on the development of neuromuscular system. these hormones exert their influence on both muscle fibers and related motoneurons during development. the masseter is one of the most important muscles for mastication in mammals. we attempted to evaluate the effect of thyroid hormone deficiency on the morphological characteristics of masseteri...

The physiological consequences of the noradrenergic (NE) hyperinnervation of the rat brain stem produced by neonatal administration of 6-hydroxydopamine (6-OHDA) was studied in the motor trigeminal nucleus. Stimulation of the region of the lateral lemniscus, the source of the noradrenergic innervation of the nucleus, facilitated the masseteric reflex for up to 200 msec in both normal and hyperi...

The perifornical (PF) region of the posterior hypothalamus plays an important role in the regulation of sleep-wake states and motor activity. Disinhibition of PF neurons by the GABA(A) receptor antagonist, bicuculline, has been used to study the mechanisms of wake- and motor activity-promoting effects that emanate from the PF region. Bicuculline activates PF neurons, including the orexin-contai...

Calcitonin gene-related peptide (CGRP) is present in some spinal cord motoneurons and at neuromuscular junctions in skeletal muscle. We previously reported increased numbers of CGRP-positive (CGRP+) motoneurons supplying hindlimb extensors after downhill exercise (Homonko DA and Theriault E, Inter J Sport Med 18: 1-7, 1997). The present study identifies the responding population with respect to...

Abstract Introduction Neurons in the pre-Bötzinger complex are critical for generation of inspiratory rhythm and control activity genioglossus muscle via activation hypoglossal motoneurons. Activation causes anterior movement tongue widens upper airway. As obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) is associated with obstruction airway, this neuronal pathway may be a novel therapeutic approach. Orexins have...

Ciliary neurotrophic factor receptor alpha (CNTFRalpha) is the ligand-binding component of the CNTF receptor. CNTFRalpha expression is essential for the normal development of spinal motoneurons and is required for the development of a sex difference in motoneuron number in androgen-sensitive perineal motoneurons. We used immunocytochemistry to examine the expression and hormone regulation of CN...