Vestibular function of saccule in cats as indicated by the response of Deiters' nucleus to static tilts

Abstract

In ketamine anesthetized cats, the contralateral labyrinth, the ipsilateral utricle, the ipsilateral horizontal and anterior semicircular canal nerves were completely destroyed, leaving the ipsilateral saccule intact. Neurons in the Deiters' nucleus, driven by electrical stimulation of the superior saccule, were responsive to static tilts in the antero-posterior direction. Results suggest that the saccule is capable of conveying information on head positional changes in the antero-posterior direction and that such information is retained at the level of the Deiters' nucleus.