Convergence of the anterior semicircular canal and otolith afferents on cat single vestibular neurons

The convergence between the anterior semicircular canal (AC) and utricular (UT) inputs, as well as the convergence between the AC and saccular (SAC) inputs in single vestibular neurons of decerebrated cats were investigated. Postsynaptic potentials were recorded intracellularly after selective stimulation of each pair of vestibular nerves AC/UT or AC/SAC. Neurons were recorded from the central parts of the vestibular nuclei, where the otolith afferents mainly terminate. Of a total of 105 neurons that were activated after stimulation of the AC and UT nerves, 42 received convergent inputs. Thirty-eight of these neurons received excitatory inputs from both afferents. Convergent neurons were further classified into vestibulospinal (n=28) and vestibulooculospinal (n=6) neurons by antidromic activation from the border between the C1 and C2 spinal cord and the oculomotor or trochlear nucleus. Eight neurons that were not antidromically activated from either site were classified as vestibular neurons. Forty three percent of the convergent vestibulospinal neurons and most of the convergent vestibulooculospinal neurons projected to the spinal cord through the medial vestibulospinal tract. The remaining vestibulospinal and vestibulooculospinal neurons descended through the ipsilateral lateral vestibulospinal tract. Of a total of 118 neurons that were activated after stimulation of the AC and/or SAC nerves, 51 received convergent inputs (27 vestibulospinal, 4 vestibulooculospinal, 5 vestibuloocular and 15 vestibular neurons). Forty-two of the convergent neurons received excitatory inputs from both afferents. Thirty seven percent of the convergent vestibulospinal neurons and all of the convergent vestibulooculospinal neurons projected to the spinal cord through the medial vestibulospinal tract. The remaining vestibulospinal and vestibulooculospinal neurons descended through the ipsilateral lateral vestibulospinal tract.