2 – Opisthotonus, pulmonary problems, and
oculomotor dysfunction
Opisthotonic posturing, or "decerebrate rigidity" was
described in monkeys and cats by Sherrington (1898)
following removal of the cerebral cortex [1, 2].
Subsequently it was found that making a cut in the
brain between the inferior and superior colliculi also
resulted in decerebrate rigidity [3, 4]. The rigidity
decreases within a few days in animals that survive;
the course of recovery are discussed in a paper by
Denny-Brown (1962) described in more detail below
[3]. Denny-Brown and others have reported human
cases of decerbrate rigidity, often the result of
traumatic injury to the midbrain [3, 5, 6].
Miller and Myers reported that spontaneous but
shallow and irregular breathing usually developed
within the first 5 hours during recovery from cerebral
ischemia [7]. Within 12 hours many animals were
breathing well enough to be removed from mechanical
assistance; however many developed pulmonary
problems and some continued to exhibit Cheyne-
Stokes respiration for a period of time.
Impairment of eye movements was frequently
observed during recovery [7].
It should be noted that oculomotor dysfunction is one
of the most frequent problems displayed by people
with alcoholic (or Wernicke's) encephalopathy [8, 9].
The oculomotor nuclei are among the brainstem
nuclei most vulnerable to compromise of aerobic
metabolism or exposure to toxic substances. Thus
oculomotor disturbance is a prominent component of
brainstem damage, and damage caused by prenatal
exposure to alcohol [10]. Impairment of oculomotor
function should be considered a possible reason
children with autism appear not to make "eye-contact."
Full References
- Sherrington CS. Cataleptoid reflexes in the monkey. Lancet 1897 Feb 6;149
(3832):373-374.
- Sherrington CS. Decerebrate Rigidity, and Reflex Coordination of Movements. J
Physiol. 1898 Feb 17;22(4):319-32.
- Denny-Brown D. The midbrain and motor integration. Proc R Soc Med. 1962 Jul;
55:527-38.
- Tonkovic-Capin M, Krolo M, Stuth EA, Hopp FA, Zuperku EJ. Improved method of
canine decerebration. J Appl Physiol. 1998 Aug;85(2):747-50.
- Paul M. A fatal injury at boxing; traumatic decerebrate rigidity. Br Med J. 1957 Feb
16;1(5015):364-6.
- Bricolo A, Turazzi S, Alexandre A, Rizzuto N. Decerebrate rigidity in acute head
injury.J Neurosurg. 1977 Nov;47(5):680-9.
- Miller JR, Myers RE. Neurological effects of systemic circulatory arrests in the
monkey. Neurology. 1970 Jul;20(7):715-24.
- Caine D, Halliday GM, Kril JJ, Harper CG. Operational criteria for the classification
of chronic alcoholics: identification of Wernicke's encephalopathy. J Neurol
Neurosurg Psychiatry. 1997 Jan;62(1):51-60.
- Cogan DG, Witt ED, Goldman-Rakic PS. Ocular signs in thiamine-deficient
monkeys and in Wernicke's disease in humans. Arch Ophthalmol. 1985 Aug;103
(8):1212-20.
- Green CR, Munoz DP, Nikkel SM, Reynolds JN. Deficits in eye movement control
in children with fetal alcohol spectrum disorders.Alcohol Clin Exp Res. 2007 Mar;31
(3):500-11.
- Sherrington CS. (1897)
Cataleptoid reflexes in the
monkey.
- Sherrington CS. (1898)
Decerebrate Rigidity, and
Reflex Coordination of
Movements.
- Denny-Brown D. (1962)
The midbrain and motor
integration.
- Tonkovic-Capin M et al.
(1998) Improved method
of canine decerebration.
- Paul M. (1957) A fatal
injury at boxing; traumatic
decerebrate rigidity.
- Bricolo A, et al. (1977)
Decerebrate rigidity in
acute head injury.J
Neurosurg. 1977 Nov;47
(5):680-9.
- Miller JR, Myers RE.
Neurological effects of
systemic circulatory
arrests in the monkey.
- Caine D et al. (1997)
Operational criteria for the
classification of chronic
alcoholics: identification of
Wernicke's
encephalopathy.
- Cogan DG et al. Ocular
signs in thiamine-deficient
monkeys and in
Wernicke's disease in
humans.
- Green CR et al. (2007)
Deficits in eye movement
control in children with
fetal alcohol spectrum
disorders.