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Integration in descending motor pathways controlling the forelimb in the cat. 7. Effects from the reticular formation on C3-C4 propriospinal neurones.

Effects of stimulation in the medullary reticular formation (RF) on C3-C4 propriospinal neurones (PNs) were investigated in two series of experiments: (1) indirectly by analyzing how propriospinal transmission to forelimb motoneurones is modified by reticular stimuli; (2) directly by intracellular recording from C3-C4 neurones, which were identified as propriospinal by their antidromic activation from the C6 segment. Propriospinally mediated disynaptic EPSPs evoked in motoneurones from the pyramid (Pyr) and the red nucleus (NR) were effectively facilitated by conditioning stimulation in the RF with a time course of facilitation indicating monosynaptic linkage to the PNs. Propriospinally mediated trisynaptic IPSPs were facilitated less regularly and sometimes instead depressed by conditioning stimulation in the RF. The depression is at least partly due to inhibition of the first order PNs. Recording from C3-C4 PNs revealed that many of them were excited or inhibited by single stimuli in the RF. The brief latency of the EPSPs evoked in these neurones shows monosynaptic linkage from fast reticulospinal fibres. Some IPSPs were similarly monosynaptically evoked from fast fibres and observations are presented suggesting that longer latency IPSPs are monosynaptically mediated by slower fibres. Facilitation of propriospinal transmission to motoneurones as well as the EPSPs and IPSPs in PNs were evoked from a region within or close to the nucleus reticularis gigantocellularis. Convergence of monosynaptic EPSPs from Pyr, NR, tectum, and RF was common in C3-C4 PNs. Linear summation of the EPSPs from RF with those evoked from cortico-, rubro-, or tectospinal tracts shows that the former are not due to stimulation of collaterals which the latter tracts may have in RF. Mediation of the EPSPs and IPSPs by descending, rather than by antidromically activated ascending fibres, was indicated by temporal facilitation produced by RF stimuli, subliminal for evoking monosynaptic PSPs in the PNs. Stimulation of the labyrinth did not evoke disynaptic PSPs in any of the PNs investigated. It is concluded that the C3-C4 PNs projecting to forelimb motoneurones can be excited not only from the cortico-, rubro-, and tectospinal tracts (Illert et at. 1977, 1978) but also by reticulospinal fibres.

Animals↗

Multiple system degeneration and involving thalamus, reticular formation, pallido-nigral, pallido-luysian and dentato-rubral systems. A case report.

An autopsy case of multiple system degeneration is characterized by the following; (1) progressive dementia and abnormal sleep patterns, followed by Parkinsonian symptoms with terminal akinetic mutism; (2) severe symmetrical degeneration in the thalamus, particularly nucl. medialis thalami, the reticular formation of the brain stem, also the pallidonigral, pallido-Luysian and dentato-rubral systems. As far as we known, there is no case in the literature, of combined system degeneration, which shows such a wide anatomical range of lesions as the present one. Clinico-pathological correlation between dementia and degeneration of the thalamus, and between abnormal sleep-consciousness mechanism and degeneration of the reticular formation are discussed. The extrapyramidal symptoms are discussed from the clinico-pathological aspect. In addition, peculiar eosinophilic bodies are described, which were most frequently found in the putamen.

Adult↗

Medullary reticular formation activity during ingestion and rejection in the awake rat.

The consummatory components of ingestion and rejection, organized in the caudal brainstem, include licking, swallowing, and the oral phase of rejection (gaping). Studies employing electrical-stimulation induced motor activity have localized interneurons controlling these complex motor patterns to the medullary reticular formation (RF), but the characteristics of these neurons during more naturally induced behavior are unknown. The purpose of the present study was to record the activity profiles of RF neurons during licking, swallowing, and oral rejection in response to gustatory stimulation. Two-hundred and two neurons recorded from awake, freely moving rats were broadly classified as orally related (67%) or non-orally related (33%). Orally related neurons included a large number that were rhythmically active during licking (n = 76; 38%). These "lick-rhythmic" neurons were widely distributed in the RF, but were concentrated in the caudal medullary reticular formation adjacent to the hypoglossal nucleus (Probst's region) and further rostral in the intermediate zone (IRt) of the RF. An analysis of autocorrelations determined that lick-rhythmic neurons in these regions were more closely coupled to licking than to lick-rhythmic neurons more lateral in the parvocellular RF (PCRt). In addition to neurons with weak lick-rhythmic activity, the PCRt also contained a disproportionate number of neurons with orosensory or mixed oro-sensorimotor properties. These data provide evidence for functional specialization within different regions of the medullary RF. A high proportion of lick-rhythmic neurons also showed differential activity associated with swallowing (41%) and/or gaping (75%), further suggesting that the different components of ingestion and rejection share brainstem substrates instead of being produced by unique subsets of interneurons.

Action Potentials↗

Morphine and methionine-enkephalin: different effects on spontaneous and evoked neuronal firing in the mesencephalic reticular formation of the rat.

The technique of microiontophoresis was used to determine the effects of morphine and methionine-enkephalin (met-enkephalin) on spontaneous neuronal firing and on firing evoked by a nociceptive stimulus (evoked firing). Morphine and metenkephalin produced one of the three following patterns of effects on single units in the mesencephalic reticular formation: 1) morphine but not met-enkephalin blocked evoked firing; 2) met-enkephalin but not morphine blocked evoked firing; and 3) both morphine and met-enkephalin blocked evoked firing. For neurons exhibiting each of these three patterns, the mean T100, a modification of the T50 which is analogous to a dose-response curve, correlated with the effects of the drugs on evoked firing. There appear to be differences in cell size and location which are associated with different effects of the drugs. The difference in the effects of the drugs on evoked firing cannot be explained by differences in transport number, diffusion or degradation of the drugs, nor by different locations of the drug ejection barrels. Naloxone, administered intravenously or micriontophoretically, antagonized the drug-induced blockade. The effects of morphine and met-enkephalin on spontaneous firing did not correlate with their effect on evoked firing. Furthermore, in the majority of cases, the effects of morphine and met-enkephalin on spontaneous firing were not the same. These data indicate that there may be more than one type of opiate receptor in the mesencephalic reticular formation.

Action Potentials↗

Role of dorsal medullary reticular formation in maintenance of vasomotor tone in rats.

Recent investigations of central nervous system structures involved in the generation of vasomotor tone have focused on the rostral ventrolateral portion of the medulla, whereas other medullary areas have not been considered to have primary importance. The present study was designed to determine the role of the medullary reticular formation, dorsal to the ventrolateral medulla, in the maintenance of vasomotor tone. The effects of microinjections of the inhibitory amino acid glycine into this medullary region on systemic arterial pressure, heart rate and renal nerve activity were determined in male rats anaesthetized with propofol and treated with atropine to block vagal influences on the heart. Unilateral injections (24 of 57 sites) of glycine into the dorsal medulla caused significant decreases in arterial pressure (-10 +/- 1.0 mmHg) and renal sympathetic nerve activity (-12 +/- 1%) whereas heart rate was not significantly affected. Bilateral injections (12 of 20) of glycine caused significantly greater decreases in heart rate (-10 +/- 1 bpm) and renal nerve activity (-25 +/- 4%) than were elicited by unilateral injections. In contrast, although arterial pressure decreased significantly from control values (-10 +/- 1 mmHg), these responses were not different from the arterial pressure changes caused by unilateral injections. These results demonstrate that, in the propofol anaesthetized rat, neurons in the dorsal medullary reticular formation contribute to the maintenance of vasomotor tone.

Animals↗

High activity neurons in the reticular formation of the medulla oblongata: a high-resolution autoradiographic 2-deoxyglucose study.

Accumulation of radioactivity in the medulla oblongata of the rat was assessed with high resolution autoradiography after injection of [3H]2-deoxyglucose or [14C]2-deoxyglucose. The autoradiographic approach employed allowed analysis at the cellular level. A salient feature of autoradiograms was the presence of foci of very high silver grain density in the reticular formation. These heavily labeled foci were shown to be associated with neurons by combined Acridine Orange staining and autoradiography. The high activity neurons in the ventral lateral medulla were predominantly located in the caudal portion of the paragigantocellular reticular nucleus. In addition, a group of high activity neurons was present in the dorsal reticular formation. The potential involvement of the high activity neurons in cardiovascular and respiratory regulation is discussed. In dry-mount autoradiograms produced after injection of [3H]2-deoxyglucose, certain small cells, presumably glial cells, were observed throughout the brainstem to accumulate radioactivity to a greater extent than the surrounding tissue. High activity neurons and high activity glial cells were observed for 5 min and 45 min survival intervals after intravenous injection of [3H]2-deoxyglucose. The similar appearance of autoradiograms at 5 min and 45 min after injection of [3H]2-deoxyglucose indicates that the utility of a 5-min survival period deserves further evaluation for assessment of functional activity patterns in brain.

Animals↗

Firing characteristics of neurones in the superior colliculus and the pontomedullary reticular formation during orienting in unrestrained cats.

Cats were trained to fixate a center LED or light spot for 1-10 s and to orient to a target (LED or light spot), which appeared simultaneous with the disappearance of the fixation light. Firing characteristics of neurones in the superior colliculus (SC) and the pontomedullary reticular formation were examined systematically in cats performing the above orienting task. In the head-free condition, a majority of the superficial neurones in the SC was activated when a target appeared in a particular area in the visual field (receptive field) as in head fixed animals. We identified a new group of neurones in superficial layers of the SC, superficial fixation neurones, which fired tonically when fixated on a target light with little activity at fixating a center fixation light. In the intermediate and deep layers of the SC, many neurones fired when directed to a particular area in the visual field (movement field). In addition to these neurones, we found new groups of neurones fired tonically in a particular phase of orienting. These neurones were divided into three principal types, target activated, target suppressed and center fixation activated neurones. Target activated neurones fired tonically during the fixation of a target, but not during fixation of a center spot. Target suppressed neurones were characterized by a pause during fixation of targets irrespective of their location. They had clear phasic and tonic components. The phasic component was characterized by a movement field resembling that seen in a typical intermediate layer neurone. Center fixation activated neurones discharged during fixation of the center spot and exhibited suppression during fixation of the target. Many neurones in the pontomedullary reticular formation fired during orienting. Four major types of neurones, phasic, phasic sustained, pause and tonic neurones, were differentiated on the basis of their firing patterns. Phasic units were characterized by brief phasic firing during orienting and could be divided into four subtypes. Long lead phasic neurones began to fire 50-100 ms prior to the onset of a gaze shift and stopped well before the end of the gaze shift and the total number of firing was best correlated with the total angle of head rotation. Short lead phasic neurones started to fire 10-20 ms prior to a gaze shift and were further subdivided into decrement and plateau types. The decrement type exhibited a brief burst just prior to gaze shift and stopped discharging prior to the end of the gaze shift, while the plateau type fired tonically during the gaze shift and stopped firing after the gaze shift. Total number of discharges of both type was related to maximal angular velocity. The fourth type, gaze neurone, began firing coincident with the onset of the gaze shift and stopped firing at the completion of the gaze shift and the total number of discharges was closely related to total angle of head rotation Phasic sustained (PS) neurones fired 50-100 ms before the onset of a gaze shift and their discharges continued after the end of the gaze shift and were divided into three subtypes: augmenting, pause and plateau. The augmenting type was characterized by a transient increase of firing during the gaze shift and a maintained slow rate of firing following the gaze shift. Total number of discharges related to head movement amplitude and the sustained activity was correlated with head position. The pause type was suppressed during the gaze shift and was tonically active during a head movement. The plateau type had a weak phasic component and discharged at a fairly constant rate. The pause and plateau types appeared to be related to head amplitude and head position, respectively. Tonic units were classified into several types. Target fixation neurones exhibited sustained firing when the cat was fixating a target, irrespective of its location, but did not show sustained firing when the animal fixated the fixation light. Fixation neurones fired tonical

Animals↗

Aminergic and cholinergic afferents to REM sleep induction regions of the pontine reticular formation in the rat.

Microinjection of cholinergic agonists in a dorsolateral part of the mesopontine tegmentum has been shown to induce a rapid eye movement (REM) sleep-like state. Physiological evidence indicates that not only acetylcholine but also various amine transmitters, including those implicated in behavioral state regulation, affect neuronal activity in this region of the pontine reticular formation. In the present study, sources of select aminergic and cholinergic inputs to this REM sleep induction zone were identified and quantitatively analyzed by using fluorescence retrograde tracing combined with immunofluorescence in the rat. In addition to previously demonstrated cholinergic projections from the pedunculopontine and laterodorsal tegmental nuclei, the REM sleep induction zone received various aminergic inputs that originated in widely distributed regions of the brainstem and hypothalamus. Serotoninergic afferents represented a mean of 44% of all aminergic/cholinergic source neurons projecting to the REM sleep induction zone, which was comparable to the mean percentage of 39% represented by cholinergic afferent neurons. The serotoninergic afferents originated from the raphe nuclei at all brainstem levels, with heavier projections from the pontine than from the medullary raphe nuclei. Unexpectedly, an additional major serotoninergic input was provided by serotoninergic neurons in the nucleus prosupralemniscus (B9). Noradrenergic afferent neurons represented a mean of 14% of all aminergic/cholinergic source neurons, which was only about one-third of the mean percentage of either cholinergic or serotoninergic source neurons. These noradrenergic projection neurons were located not only in the locus ceruleus (8%) but also in the lateral tegmentum, including the A5 (4%) and A7 (2%) cell groups. Histaminergic neurons in the tuberomammillary hypothalamic nucleus represented a minor group of afferent neurons (3%), and a still smaller input came from adrenergic C1 neurons. The pattern of these transmitter-specific afferent connections appeared to be similar regardless of the longitudinal level within the REM sleep induction zone. The present results are consistent with previous behavioral and physiological evidence for a role of the pontine REM sleep induction zone in triggering REM sleep. The regulation of REM sleep induction would be best understood in terms of a state-dependent interplay of cholinergic, serotoninergic, and other inputs all acting convergently upon neurons in the REM sleep-inducing region of the pontine reticular formation.

Afferent Pathways↗

The nucleus reticularis tegmenti pontis and the adjacent rostral paramedian reticular formation: differential projections to the cerebellum and the caudal brain stem.

The projection of the nucleus reticularis tegmenti pontis and the adjacent tegmental area, to the caudal brain stem and the cerebellum were investigated by means of anterograde transport of tritiated leucine. The nucleus reticularis tegmenti pontis was found to be exclusively connected with the cerebellum. Mossy fiber terminals were absent only from lobule X and most abundant in lobule VII and the hemispheres with a slight contralateral predominance. The paramedian pontine reticular formation projects with bilateral symmetry to the cerebellar lobules VI, VII and the crura I and II, and heavily to the medial aspect of predominantly the ipsilateral reticular formation in the lower brain stem including specific targets as the nucleus reticularis paramedianus, the nucleus prepositus hypoglossi, the nucleus intercalatus, the nucleus of Roller, the nucleus supragenualis and the dorsal cap of the inferior olive. The nucleus vestibularis medialis receives a very weak projection. The connections are discussed in the light of their possible involvement in pathways for the execution of voluntary and reflex eye movements.

Animals↗

Inhibition of spinal nociceptive information by stimulation in midbrain of the cat is blocked by lidocaine microinjected in nucleus raphe magnus and medullary reticular formation.

The organization in the brain stem of descending inhibitory control of spinal nociceptive information was studied in anesthetized, paralyzed cats by quantitatively evaluating the effects of reversible blocks produced by lidocaine microinjected in the medial and/or lateral medulla. Spinal neuronal inhibition produced by stimulation in the nucleus raphe magnus (NRMS) was compared to the inhibition of the same dorsal horn neurons produced by stimulation 2 mm lateral in the medullary reticular formation (MRFS). When the inhibition produced by NRMS and/or MRFS was blocked by lidocaine microinjected in those medullary sites, the efficacy of spinal neuronal inhibition produced by stimulation in the midbrain periaqueductal gray (PAGS) and 4 mm lateral in the reticular formation (LRFS) was evaluated and compared with the inhibition produced before the intramedullary microinjection of lidocaine. All 32 spinal dorsal horn neurons studied responded to hindlimb cutaneous nerve stimulation at strengths supramaximal for activation of A-alpha,delta- and C-fibers, to mechanical stimuli applied to the skin, and 27 also responded to noxious radiant heating (50 degrees C, 10 s) of the skin of the foot- or toepads (5 units had receptive fields in the hairy skin of the hindlimb). The noxious heat-evoked responses of all units studied were inhibited by NRMS or MRFS. The mean threshold currents for spinal inhibition, the mean maximal inhibition produced, and the mean stimulation currents producing an attenuation to 50% of the control response to 50 degrees C skin heating did not differ between NRMS and MRFS. When quantitatively compared on the same spinal units, NRMS produced the same mean magnitude of inhibition as the same intensities of MRFS, and both NRMS and MRFS produced the same mean percent increment in inhibition per 100-microA increase in the intensity of brain stimulation. The responses of the spinal units studied to graded noxious heating of the skin was a monotonic linear function throughout the temperature range employed (42-50 degrees C). MRFS shifted this stimulus response function (SRF) to the right, raising significantly the threshold of response a mean 2.2 degrees C to noxious heating of the skin without significantly affecting the slope of the SRF. MRFS reduced the number of discharges of spinal units evoked by electrical A-alpha,beta-fiber stimulation of hindlimb cutaneous nerves in 4 of 10 units studied. NRMS similarly inhibited the A-alpha,beta-fiber-evoked responses of two of the same four units affected by MRFS but also affected two of the remaining six units not affected by MRFS.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 400 WORDS)

Animals↗

[Neurons of the rabbit midbrain reticular formation during a defensive conditioned reflex].

Analysis of unit activity of the midbrain reticular formation was carried out on alert rabbits during defensive conditioning. Most of the examined neurones exhibited phasic responses corresponding in time to the components of the evoked potential (EP) recorded in the cortical visual area in response to the "indifferent" stimulus, and to the conditioned stimulus and electric cutaneous reinforcement. The data obtained are considered from the standpoint of the Anokhin functional systems theory. A conclusion has been made regarding the participation of reticular units in providing all the basic mechanisms of the functional system of the behavioral act. Discharges of one and the same neurone may correspond to different components of the EPs to conditioned and unconditioned stimuli. In different behavioral acts a neurone may apparently participate in different systemic mechanisms.

Animals↗

Microinjection of neostigmine into the pontine reticular formation of C57BL/6J mouse enhances rapid eye movement sleep and depresses breathing.

STUDY OBJECTIVES: The cholinergic model of rapid eye movement (REM) sleep has contributed significantly to understanding sleep neurobiology and sleep-dependent respiratory depression. The model has been used extensively in cat and rat, but no previous studies have demonstrated cholinergic REM sleep enhancement in mouse. The present study used microinjection of neostigmine into pontine reticular formation of mouse to test the hypothesis that enhancing pontine cholinergic neurotransmission would cause increased REM sleep and sleep disordered breathing. DESIGN: Mice (n=8) were anesthetized and implanted with electrodes for measuring cortical electroencephalogram (EEG). Stainless steel cannulae were stereotaxically implanted to permit subsequent microinjections of 50 nl neostigmine (0.133 microg; 8.8 mM) or saline into the pontine reticular formation. Following recovery, an intensive within-subjects design was used to obtain measures of sleep/wake states, breathing, and locomotor activity. Inferential statistics were provided by t-tests. A probability value of < 0.05 indicated statistical significance. SETTING: NA. PATIENTS OR PARTICIPANTS: NA. INTERVENTIONS: NA. MEASUREMENTS AND RESULTS: Behavioral observations and manual scoring of polygraphic recordings showed that neostigmine produced a REM sleep-like state. EEG power analysis using Fast Fourier Transformation confirmed that pontine neostigmine caused EEG activation. Plethysmography demonstrated significantly disordered breathing. Compared to waking, pontine microinjection of neostigmine decreased respiratory rate (-64%) and minute ventilation (-75%). Pontine neostigmine significantly increased duration of inspiration (138%) and expiration (140%) above waking levels and decreased inspiratory flow (-69%). Additional studies showed that pontine neostigmine significantly depressed locomotor activity. CONCLUSIONS: This study is the first to demonstrate cholinergic REM sleep enhancement in unanesthetized, intact mouse. The results encourage future studies to characterize similarities and differences in cholinergic REM sleep enhancement in additional inbred strains and in transgenic mice. Such comparisons will help characterize sleep and breathing as intermediate phenotypes that are determined, in part, by the lower level phenotype of pontine cholinergic neurotransmission.

Animals↗

[The destruction of perikaryas of the mesencephalic reticular formation and the posterior hypothalamus does not cause major disorders of awakening in the cat].

Ibotenic acid microinjections have been realized at the level of the mesencephalic reticular formation and the posterior hypothalamus in 7 cats. This technique has led to a quasi-total destruction of cell bodies in the two areas (including the histaminergic neurons). 2 to 3 days after such lesions, there were no major effects on behavioral waking. These results do not favor the hypothesis of the existence of a waking system at the level of the mesencephalic reticular formation and/or posterior hypothalamus.

Animals↗

[Function of the superior colliculi of the corpora quadrigemina during creation of a local focus of increased excitability in the mesencephalic reticular formation and sensomotor cortex].

In chronic experiments on waking rabbits, the foci of heightened excitability in the sensorimotor cortex and mesencephalic reticular formation affected in a similar way the background neuronal activity in the superior colliculi and that evoked by light stimuli. The effect was manifested in elimination of inhibitory pauses in the neuronal response to light stimulus and in a general increase of discharge frequency. Similarity of the cortical and reticular influences is due to their possible mediation by the same collicular interneurones participating in inhibitory pauses formation in the process of backward inhibition. Increased neuronal activity in the superior colliculi under the action of local foci in the sensorimotor cortex and mesencephalic reticular formation correlated with appearance of forelimb motor reaction to isolated light stimulus testifying to a formation of a functional connection between the visual and motor analyzers. Possible role of the superior colliculi in this process and their participation in the formation of a visually controlled reaction is discussed.

Animals↗

[Lactate dehydrogenase isoenzyme spectrum in various areas of the reticular formation of the brain in rats: the effect of emotional stress].

The changes in lactate dehydrogenase (LDG) isoenzyme content in the various brain areas were studied in intact Wistar rats and upon immobilization stress. LDG fraction levels were compared to BP changes during immobilization. The proportion of "anaerobic" LDG fractions was higher and the proportion of "aerobic" fractions lower in the dorsal area of midbrain substantia reticularis than in medulla oblongata reticular formation. The changes in LDG fraction content related to BP alterations during immobilization were observed in dorsal and ventral areas of midbrain (but not medulla oblongata) substantia reticularis. The proportion of anaerobic LDG4 fraction in the dorsal area of midbrain substantia reticularis was higher in rats with hypertensive responses, than in hypotensive animals. The changes in LDG5 fraction content were opposite. In the ventral area of midbrain reticular formation BP reduction was accompanied by a significant rise in "anaerobic" and a decrease in "aerobic" LDG fraction levels. The data obtained indicate certain differences in the intensity of aerobic and anaerobic processes of carbohydrate degeneration in various areas of substantia reticularis in control rats, as well as the correlation of changes in energy metabolism in the brain with BP alterations during emotional stress.

Animals↗

Relative power contributions of unit discharges simultaneously recorded in the mesencephalic reticular formation.

In order to investigate mutual interactions between neuronal discharges in the mesencepahlic reticular formation, relative power contributions (RPC) were estimated during sleep-wake cycles and serotonin (5HT)-depleted conditions by the administration of parachlorophenylalanine (PCPA). The RPC for most of the neurons dominated in the lower frequency range below 0.4 Hz during rapid eye movement (REM) sleep and the PCPA-treated conditions, which were qualitatively reproduced by the neural network model under global disinhibition. The results supported the hypothesis that the peculiar dynamics of neuronal activities during REM sleep, 1/f fluctuations, were generated by neuronal interactions augmented by the release from the global inhibition of 5HT.

Animals↗

[The effect of high-frequency stimulation of the midbrain reticular formation on the interaction of neocortical neurons].

The influence was studied of midbrain reticular formation (NRT) stimulation at the rate of 75-100 Hz by the current of 33-400 mkA upon the neuronal interaction in the visual and somatosensory regions of rabbits neocortex. Histograms of cross- and autocorrelation of impulse trains were plotted. NRT stimulation resulted (as compared with calm wakefulness) in an increase of the number of pairs of neurons with correlated activity and in an increase of the probability of neurons discharges 100-400 ms one after another. Mechanisms of cellular interaction did not change. Comparison with the previously obtained data allowed to conclude that NRT activation can induce certain changes in neuronal interaction observed during pseudoconditioning and early phases of conditioning.

Animals↗

Dose effects of halothane on sensory evoked responses obtained from the cortex, reticular formation and central gray.

Sensory evoked field potentials were recorded from the mesencephalic reticular formation (MRF), central gray (CG) and somatosensory cortex (SCX), following incremental doses of halothane in freely-moving rats. Halothane concentrations of 0.25%, 0.5% 1.0% and 2.0% were used. In general, the responses from each structure were affected in dose response manner. The averaged acoustic evoked responses (AAER) exhibit more sensitivity to halothane than the averaged visual evoked responses (AVER). The evoked response and its components obtained from each structure were affected differently by halothane mainly following the initial two halothane doses, (0.25% and 0.5%); mainly increase in amplitude was observed in the recording obtained from the MRF, decrease in the CG, and mixed (increase and/or decrease) in SCX. The degree of the depression of the sensory evoked responses was directly correlated to the level of anesthesia as assessed by sural nerve stimulation.

Animals↗