Cholinergic modulation of optokinetic and vestibulo-ocular responses: a study with microinjections in the flocculus of the rabbit

In spite of a large body of histochemical evidence for a cholinergic system in the cerebellum, particularly in lobules IX and X, the physiological role of such a system has remained obscure. In view of the important role of these same lobules in the control of the vestibulo-ocular (VOR) and optokinetic (OKR) responses, we tested the effect of microinjections of cholinergic (ant)agonists in the flocculus of the rabbit on these reflexes. Very marked effects were found. Bilateral floccular injection of the aspecific cholinergic agonist carbachol raised the gain of the OKR by about 0.46 above the baseline values, while the gain of the VOR in darkness was raised by about 0.14. These effects were statistically significant and persisted for several hours. Similar, but smaller effects were obtained after injection of eserine, an inhibitor of acetylcholinesterase. Thus, the effects could be produced by increasing the naturally present amount of acetylcholine. Microinjections of the nicotinic blocker mecamylamine reduced the gain of the VOR and OKR, although these effects did not reach statistical significance. The muscarinic blocker atropine significantly reduced the gain of the OKR, but not of the VOR. The present results argue strongly for an important physiological role of the cholinergic system in the cerebellum. Specifically, acetylcholine appears to be involved in the modulation of oculomotor reflexes through the flocculus.