THE INFLUENCE OF UNILATERAL DESTRUCTION OF THE VESTIBULAR NUCLEI UPON POSTURE AND THE KNEE-JERK

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Abstract
Experimental lesions of the vestibular nuclei in normal animals cause hypotonia on the side of the lesions, forced rolling movements to that side. If decerebrated after an interval of three weeks, the rigidity and stretch reflexes are greatly diminished on the injured side, and the knee-jerk is more readily inhibited. Marchi staining of the cord in such animals has shown extensive degeneration of the homo-lateral vestibulospinal pathway and slight degeneration in the crossed vestibulospinal tract. Acute lesions of Deiters' area after decerebration also cause great diminution of rigidity on the same side and increased susceptibility of the knee-jerk to inhibition. We conclude that the nucleus of Deiters and the direct spinal pathway to which it gives rise is chiefly responsible for the differences between the decerebrate and the spinal condition, and hence its integrity is essential for preventing spinal shock.