The formation of functional neuronal circuits relies on accurate migration and proper axonal outgrowth of neuronal precursors. On the route to their targets migrating cells and growing axons depend on both, directional information from neurotropic cues and adhesive interactions mediated via extracellular matrix molecules or neighbouring cells. The inactivation of guidance cues or the interferen...

OBJECTIVE To locate the neuronal motor cells of the mylohyoid muscle and discuss their topographical organization. METHODS The present study was conducted at the Department of Anatomy and Histology, Faculty of Medicine, University of Jordan, Amman, Jordan between 2002 and 2003. The mylohyoid muscle in 15 albino rats was injected with 15 mliter of a retrogradely transported fluorescent materia...

Histamine receptors are densely expressed in the mesencephalic trigeminal nucleus (MesV) and trigeminal motor nucleus. However, little is known about the functional roles of neuronal histamine in controlling oral-motor activity. Thus, using the whole-cell recording technique in brainstem slice preparations from Wistar rats aged between postnatal days 7 and 13, we investigated the effects of his...

PURPOSE Too investigate asymmetry in eyelid movements with blinking, the stability of the asymmetry, and its modifiability in normal humans. METHODS Differences in the start time and amplitude between the two eyelids were assessed for voluntary blinks and reflex blinks evoked by supraorbital trigeminal nerve stimulation. These variables were also measured before and up to 18 months after 2 ho...

Natural stimulation of the skin surface by pressuring or electrical stimulation of the cutaneous nerve may induce 'hypnotic', inactive or sleep state in the animal, besides evoking the segmental reflex activities 2.10,16,21,27). In this inhibitory influence, not only the motor activity but also the sympathetic nervous activity, as is indicated by the blood pressure or sweating 13.27), is involv...

Growth/differentiation factor-15 (GDF-15) is a widely expressed distant member of the TGF-beta superfamily with prominent neurotrophic effects on midbrain dopaminergic neurons. We show here that GDF-15-deficient mice exhibit progressive postnatal losses of spinal, facial, and trigeminal motoneurons. This deficit reaches a approximately 20% maximum at 6 months and is accompanied by losses of mot...

To cite: Nam HS, Park JH, Han SW. BMJ Case Reports Published online: [please include Day Month Year] doi:10.1136/bcr-2012008301 DESCRIPTION Hemifacial spasm (HFS) is defined as involuntary, irregular clonic or tonic movement of muscles innervated by the ipsilateral seventh cranial nerve. While HFS is often attributed to a crosscompressive effect of an artery or arteries at the root exit zone of...

The vertebrate hindbrain is transiently segmented during its early development with the formation of reiterated bulges, the rhombomeres (r). The Krox-20 gene, which encodes a zinc finger transcription factor, has been shown previously to be implicated in the maintenance of r3 and r5 (Schneider-Maunoury, S., Topilko, P., Seitanidou, T., Levi, G., Cohen-Tannoudji, M., Pournin, S., Babinet, C. and...