Electrooculographic Syndrome in Monkeys After Pontine Reticular Formation Lesions

Abstract

THE TEGMENTUM of the pons plays an important role in mediating conjugate horizontal eye movements. In both cat and monkey stimulation of the paramedian zone of the pontine reticular formation (PPRF) induces conjugate ipsilateral horizontal eye movements.^1-4Potentials occur in the pontine tegmentum which lead each rapid eye movement by 5 to 10 msec.^5,6In humans lesions of this region may result in paresis or paralysis of ipsilateral horizontal conjugate gaze. The clinical literature has been reviewed in detail by Gowers,⁷Freeman,⁸Duke-Elder,⁹and Jung and Kornhuber.¹⁰In cats and monkeys lesions of the pontine tegmentum produce paralysis or paresis of gaze and loss of the fast phase of caloric or optokinetic nystagmus to the ipsilateral side.^1,2,11-15 Although the effects of PPRF lesions are generally known, there has been relatively little attempt to characterize aspects of gaze palsy produced by PPRF lesions