Peculiarities of cerebellar excitation of facial nucleus motoneurons.

Excitatory postsynaptic potentials (EPSPs) of facial nucleus motoneurons evoked by stimulation of the cerebellar nuclei, were studied in anesthetized cats. It is shown that the stimulation of nucleus interpositus and dentatus evoked mono-, oligo- and polysynaptic EPSPs in facial motoneurons. From the experiments with lesions in the red nucleus it is suggested that this structure is implicated in the mechanisms and pathways through which the cerebellar control over facial nucleus motoneurons is realized.