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ELECTROPHYSIOLOGICAL STUDY OF THE RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN ROSTRAL VENTROLATERAL MEDULLA ANDLOCUS COERULEUS OF RABBITS

CHEN YONG-YUE, HUANG ZHONG-SUN

(Department of Physiology, Chongqing University of Medical Sciences, Chongqing 630046)

Abstract

The electrophysiological characteristics of locus coeruleus (LC)neurons and the projection from the rostral ventrolateral medulla (RVLM) to the LC were investigated on 18 rabbits，which were lightly anesthetized，decerebelated，paralyzed and artificial1y ventilated. 93 of the 108 recorded LC neurons are firing spontaneously at about 5. 1Hz，while the remaining are silent but could be activated by pinching. 64 (59. 2%)of the LC neurons manifested excitatory response to brushing and 93 (86. 1%)to pinching. Of the 108 LC neurons，85 (78. 7%)neurons could be activated orthodromically
by ipsilateral RVLM stimulation with a latency of 21 .6士6. 9 ms，among which 67neurons showed excitatory response. 35 of the 123 recorded RVLM neurons responded antidromically to ipsilateral LC stimulation with a latency of 19. 2士8. 2 ms. These results suggest that there may exist a direct excitatory pathway from RVLM to LC.

Key words: locus coeruleus;rostral ventrolateral medulla;autonomic nervous system;brain stem;

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Citing This Article：

CHEN YONG-YUE, HUANG ZHONG-SUN. ELECTROPHYSIOLOGICAL STUDY OF THE RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN ROSTRAL VENTROLATERAL MEDULLA ANDLOCUS COERULEUS OF RABBITS . Acta Physiol Sin 1997; 49 (2): (in Chinese with English abstract).