ROLE OF THE VESTIBULAR COMMISSURE IN GAZE-HOLDING IN THE CAT - A PHARMACOLOGICAL EVALUATION

RECENT theoretical studies have proposed that the vestibular commissur e is a major component of the horizontal gaze-holding system. In order to test this hypothesis, we injected either bicuculline, a GABA recep tor antagonist, or strychnine, a glycine receptor antagonist, into the medial vestibular nucleus of alert cats. The intervestibular connecti on is indeed inhibitory and mediated by GABA and glycine. As neither b icuculline nor strychnine caused serious deficit of the gaze-holding s ystem, we conclude that the vestibular commissure is not essential for gaze-holding.