Depression of the vestibulospinal reflex by intravermal microinjection of GABAA and GABAB agonists in the decerebrate cat.

Abstract Experiments performed in decerebrate cats have shown that unilateral microinjection into the cerebellar anterior vermis of a GABAA (muscimol) or a GABAB agonist (baclofen) decreased the gain of the vestibulospinal reflex involving the ipsilateral triceps brachii (iVSR). On the contrary, the phase angle of the reflex was not significantly modified. These effects started 5 to 10 min after the injection and persisted for at least 1 to 2 h before disappearing. Just the opposite changes in gain of the VSR were obtained after local microinjection of the GABAA (bicuculline) or the GABAB antagonist (saclofen). The area on which the GABAergic agents were effective was located within the third and/or the fourth folium rostral to the fissura prima (culmen), at the laterality of 1.0 to 1.4 mm with respect to the midline. This vermal region corresponded to the zone B of the cerebellar cortex, which receives a labyrinth input and projects to the ipsilateral lateral vestibular nucleus, where it exerts a prominent inhibitory influence. It is suggested that GABA agonists inhibit the Purkinje (P)-cells' activity, thus reducing the labyrinthine-induced modulation of the firing rate of these neurons by mossy and climbing fiber afferents. Since the vermal P-cells discharge outphase with respect to the excitatory VS neurons, we may explain why a reduced output of these P-cells results in a reduced gain of the VSR. These experiments provide evidence that the cerebellar anterior vermis exerts a positive influence on the basic VSR gain.