Eden A R, Gannon P J
Arch Otolaryngol Head Neck Surg. 1987 Feb;113(2):133-7. doi: 10.1001/archotol.1987.01860020025006.
This study investigates the afferent and efferent pathways by which respiratory neurons in the brain can monitor and regulate middle ear aeration. Experiments were performed on 11 adult cynomolgus monkeys (Macaca fascicularis). The neural tracer, horseradish peroxidase, was placed on the transected nerves of the tympanic plexus in four animals. Horseradish peroxidase-labeled nerve terminal fields were observed in the ipsilateral respiratory subnuclei of the nucleus of the solitary tract. This may represent the sensory pathway by which the degree of middle ear aeration is monitored by the brain. Horseradish peroxidase was injected into the eustachian tube muscles in six of the monkeys, and horseradish peroxidase-labeled motoneurons were observed in the ipsilateral trigeminal motor nucleus (tensor palati muscle) and nucleus ambiguus (levator palati muscle). These brain-stem motor nuclei may represent the efferent pathways by which the degree of middle ear aeration is regulated. The results of these primate experiments confirm our earlier studies on rabbits and cats. A theory for the neural control of middle ear aeration is proposed.
本研究调查了大脑中的呼吸神经元监测和调节中耳通气的传入和传出途径。对11只成年食蟹猴（猕猴）进行了实验。在4只动物的鼓室丛横断神经上放置了神经示踪剂辣根过氧化物酶。在孤束核的同侧呼吸亚核中观察到辣根过氧化物酶标记的神经终末场。这可能代表了大脑监测中耳通气程度的感觉途径。在6只猴子的咽鼓管肌肉中注射了辣根过氧化物酶，并在同侧三叉神经运动核（腭帆张肌）和疑核（腭帆提肌）中观察到辣根过氧化物酶标记的运动神经元。这些脑干运动核可能代表了调节中耳通气程度的传出途径。这些灵长类动物实验的结果证实了我们早期对兔子和猫的研究。提出了中耳通气神经控制的理论。
