THE PLACE OF THE RED NUCLEUS IN THE POSTURAL COMPLEX

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Abstract
In acute experiments on 7 cats the red nuclei or their descending connections were completely destroyed by use of the Horsley-Clarke stereotaxic instrument and bipolar electrolytic needles. Following recovery from the anesthetic, those animals in which the lesions were limited to the rubral region gave evidence of ability to right themselves, stand and walk, even when blinded. The gait was characteristically dysmetric, ataxic and generally poorly coordinated, but was otherwise efficient. Under suitable conditions mild hypertonus of the extensor muscles was evident. Those cats which did not walk were found, upon microscopic examination of the brain stems, to have lesions affecting considerable areas outside the red nucleus, which suggested that their disability might be accounted for in part by involvement of certain supra-vestibular structures. It is suggested that the red nucleus is but a part of the complex system devoted to the regulation of postural tonus.

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