Role of the red nucleus on mastication, swallowing, feeding and drinking behavior

1.我们研究是否红核（RN）的损害可以修改有节奏的下颌运动。通过重复电刺激口面运动皮层或岛叶皮层诱导有节奏的下颌运动。在RN施加电流的病变被发现会影响有节奏的下颌运动引起的刺激的orofacial运动皮层。诱导损伤后，最大和最小开口位置之间的距离减小。与此相反，RN的病变不影响刺激岛叶皮层引起的有节奏的下颌运动。然后，将红藻氨酸（损伤组）或磷酸盐缓冲盐水（对照组）注入左侧RN。注射后三天，通过重复电刺激口面运动皮层诱导有节奏的下颌运动。病变组最大和最小开颌位置之间的距离小于对照组。这些结果表明，RN参与了由口面运动皮层刺激引起的下颌运动的修改。我们研究了单侧RN病变对咀嚼、进食和饮水的影响。左侧RN注射红藻氨酸（损伤组）或磷酸盐缓冲盐水（对照组）。病变组在术后第一天和第二天摄入的颗粒平均数量明显较少。病变组术后食物溢出明显增加。病变组会抓一颗药丸放进嘴里，但有时他们会咬几下药丸，然后把它洒出来。病变组摄入的水滴平均数量在术后第一天明显减少。我们的研究提示RN病变组不能很好地咀嚼食物，从而减少了食物的摄入。

1. We study whether the red nucleus (RN) lesion can modify rhythmic jaw movements. Rhythmic jaw movements were induced by repetitive electrical stimulation of the orofacial motor cortex or the insular cortex. Lesions made by applied electric current in the RN were found to influence the rhythmic jaw movements induced by stimulation of the orofacial motor cortex. The distance between the maximum and minimum jaw-opening positions was less after the lesions were induced. In contrast, lesions of the RN did not influence rhythmic jaw movements induced by stimulation of the insular cortex. Next, kainic acid (lesion group) or phosphate-buffered saline (control group) was injected into the left RN. Three days after injection, rhythmic jaw movements were induced by repetitive electrical stimulation of the orofacial motor cortex. The distance between the maximum and minimum jaw-opening positions in the lesion group was smaller than in the control group. These results suggest that the RN is involved in the modification of jaw movements induced by stimulation of the orofacial motor cortex.2. We have examined the effect of a unilateral lesion of the RN on mastication, feeding and drinking. Kainic acid (lesion group) or phosphate-buffered saline (control group) was injected into the left RN. The mean number of pellets ingested in the lesion group was significantly less on the first and second days after surgery. Spillage of food increased greatly in the lesion group after surgery. The lesion group would grasp a pellet and put it into their mouth, but they sometimes bit a pellet several times, then spilled it. The mean number of drops of water ingested by the lesion group was significantly reduced on the first day after surgery. Our study suggests that the RN lesion group can not masticate food well, and ingestion of food then decreases.