Synaptic actions of vagal afferents on facial motoneurons in the cat.

Synaptic potentials in facial motoneurons of cats were intracellularly recorded on stimulation of the vagal nerve, superior laryngeal nerve, solitary tract nucleus and spinal trigeminal tract nucleus. A possible disynaptic excitation was elicited in the facial motoneurons by stimulation of the vagal nerves and superior laryngeal nerves on both sides. Activation of the neurons in the solitary tract nucleus and/or trigeminal tract nucleus induced monosynaptic excitatory postsynaptic potentials (EPSPs) in the facial motoneurons.