Brachium conjunctivum-red nucleus synaptic system in the baboon.

Electrophysiological properties of the brachium conjunctivum-red nucleus (BC-RN) synaptic system were studied in barbiturate-anesthetized baboon (Papio). Topographic recordings from the mesencephalon demonstrated that most of the BC-evoked activity was restricted to an area histologically identified as red nucleus; however, some brachium-evoked activity was recorded from the surrounding mesencephalic reticular formation. Short latency BC-evoked activity was also recorded from the pons in the region of nucleus reticularis tegmenti pontis. The majority of the BC fibers were found to conduct at a rate of 44 m/sec; a second group of BC fibers with a slower conduction velocity of 23 m/sec was also observed. Brachium-evoked responses recorded from magnocellular and pravicellular RN neurons were short latency responses consistent with monosynaptic activation of these RN neurons by the BC fibers. The BC-RN synaptic system was found to be a very secure synaptic system and could transmit activity at high rates of stimulation with little or no failure. The responsiveness of the BC fibers was found to be similar to that of optic nerve fibers and pyramidal tract fibers, both of which have been characterized as being similar to peripheral A fibers. The responsiveness of the BC-RN synaptic system began to decrease 5 msec after a single or repetitive transmission and was reduced to about 50% of normal responsiveness at 34 msec. This period of reduced postsynaptic responsiveness was associated with a reduction in presynaptic input to RN and suggest that a disfacilitation at the level of the deep cerebellar nuclei may be in part responsible for the subnormal responsiveness of the BC-RN synaptic system.