Parabrachial units responding to stimulation of buffer nerves and forebrain in the cat

1983 ◽  
Vol 245 (6) ◽  
pp. R811-R819 ◽  
Author(s):  
D. F. Cechetto ◽  
F. R. Calaresu

Spontaneously firing units in the region of parabrachial nuclei (PB) and Kolliker-Fuse nuclei (KF) of 19 chloralose-anesthetized cats were monitored for changes in firing frequency during electrical stimulation of carotid sinus (CSN) and aortic depressor (ADN) nerves, of central nucleus of the amygdala (ACE), and of paraventricular nuclei of the hypothalamus (PVH). In the ipsilateral PB 64 of 189 and in the contralateral PB 9 of 103 units responded to CSN stimulation; 18 of 185 ipsilaterally and 7 of 97 contralaterally responded to ADN stimulation. Responses were primarily excitatory, and units were located primarily in the ventrolateral portion of the PB. Only 9 of 267 units responded to stimulation of both CSN and ADN. Stimulation of the ACE and PVH antidromically activated 9 and 7 units, respectively, in PB and approximately half of these also responded to buffer nerve stimulation. In the ipsilateral PB 56 of 207 and in the contralateral PB 11 of 103 units responded orthodromically to ACE stimulation, and 23 of 177 ipsilaterally and 2 of 103 contralaterally responded orthodromically to PVH stimulation with primarily excitatory responses and were located primarily in the ventrolateral portion of the PB and KF. Of these units approximately half also responded to buffer nerve stimulation. These results suggest an important role for PB-KF in mediating ascending and descending cardiovascular and respiratory control signals.

2005 ◽  
Vol 93 (3) ◽  
pp. 1183-1196 ◽  
Author(s):  
Cheng-Shu Li ◽  
Young K. Cho ◽  
David V. Smith

The lateral hypothalamus (LH) and the central nucleus of the amygdala (CeA) exert an influence on ingestive behavior and are reciprocally connected to gustatory and viscerosensory areas, including the nucleus of the solitary tract (NST) and the parabrachial nuclei (PbN). We investigated the effects of LH and CeA stimulation on the activity of 101 taste-responsive neurons in the hamster PbN. Eighty three of these neurons were antidromically activated by stimulation of these sites; 57 were antidromically driven by both. Of these 83 neurons, 21 were also orthodromically activated—8 by the CeA and 3 by the LH. Additional neurons were excited ( n = 5) or inhibited ( n = 8) by these forebrain nuclei but not antidromically activated. Taste stimuli were: 0.032 M sucrose, 0.032 M sodium chloride (NaCl), 0.032 M quinine hydrochloride (QHCl), and 0.0032 M citric acid. Among the 34 orthodromically activated neurons, more sucrose-best neurons were excited than inhibited, whereas the opposite occurred for citric-acid- and QHCl-best cells. Neurons inhibited by the forebrain responded significantly more strongly to citric acid and QHCl than cells excited by these sites. The effects of electrical stimulation were mimicked by microinjection of dl-homocysteic acid, indicating that cells at these forebrain sites were responsible for these effects. These data demonstrate that many individual PbN gustatory neurons project to both the LH and CeA and that these areas modulate the gustatory activity of a subset of PbN neurons. This neural substrate is likely involved in the modulation of taste activity by physiological and experiential factors.


1983 ◽  
Vol 244 (5) ◽  
pp. R646-R651 ◽  
Author(s):  
D. F. Cechetto ◽  
F. R. Calaresu

Electrical activity of spontaneously active units in the amygdala of 19 chloralose-anesthetized cats was monitored for changes in firing frequency during electrical stimulation of the carotid sinus (CSN) and aortic depressor (ADN) nerves. Stimulation of the CSN altered the firing frequency of 30% (73/241) of the units on both sides of the amygdala. Of these units, 47% were excited and 53% were inhibited. Stimulation of the ADN elicited a change in firing frequency of 20% (50/251) of ipsi- and contralateral units. Of these, 68% were excited and the remainder were inhibited. The average latency for all CSN responses (53 +/- 4.0 ms) was significantly longer than the average latency for ADN responses (35 +/- 3.3 ms). The majority of the responsive units were located in the central and lateral nuclei of the amygdala. Spontaneously firing units responding to both CSN and ADN stimulation were found infrequently (7%, 14/188). These results indicate that the two buffer nerves project to specific regions within the amygdala, but the CSN and the ADN follow separate pathways probably involved in reflex arcs mediating different physiological responses.


1981 ◽  
Vol 59 (9) ◽  
pp. 965-969 ◽  
Author(s):  
D. F. Biggs ◽  
M. A. Peterson

Unilateral stimulation of carotid sinus nerve afférents at 2 and 4 V produced pulse duration-dependent reflex bronchoconstriction which was unaffected by midcervical, bilateral vagotomy. The bronchoconstriction consisted of two pharmacologically distinct components. One component was blocked by atropine or atropine methiodide, the other was blocked by either mepyramine or disodium cromoglycate. Combinations of atropine or atropine methiodide with mepyramine or disodium cromoglycate completely eliminated bronchoconstrictor responses to nerve stimulation. These data indicate that two separate bronchoconstrictor reflexes, possibly resembling serotonin- and diazoxide-induced reflex bronchoconstnction are activated by stimulation of afferent fibers in the carotid sinus nerves.


1980 ◽  
Vol 239 (1) ◽  
pp. R130-R136 ◽  
Author(s):  
F. R. Calaresu ◽  
J. Ciriello

In 18 cats anesthetized with chloralose, electrical activity of spontaneously active hypothalamic units was monitored for changes in firing frequency during electrical stimulation of carotid sinus (CSN) and aortic depressor (ADN) nerves and the nucleus tractus solitarius (NTS). Stimulation of the CSN altered the activity of 55% (381/691) of the tested. These responsive units were widely distributed in the ipsi- and contralateral hypothalamus. Of the units tested during stimulation of the ADN only 6% (17/274) changed their firing frequency. Responsive units were located only on the ipsilateral side and primarily in the paraventricular and supraoptic nuclei, Electrical stimulation of the NTS altered the firing frequency of all 84 hypothalamic units previously identified by stimulation of the CSN. NTS stimulation elicited responses that had a significantly shorter latency and followed significantly higher frequencies of stimulation when compared to stimulation of the CSN. These results demonstrate that the two buffer nerves have distinctly different central projections to the hypothalamus and suggest different functional roles for the ADN and CSN in homeostatic regulatory mechanisms mediated by the hypothalamus.


2002 ◽  
Vol 88 (6) ◽  
pp. 2979-2992 ◽  
Author(s):  
Cheng-Shu Li ◽  
Young K. Cho ◽  
David V. Smith

Previous studies have shown a modulatory influence of forebrain gustatory areas, such as the gustatory cortex and lateral hypothalamus, on the activity of taste-responsive cells in the nucleus of the solitary tract (NST). The central nucleus of the amygdala (CeA), which receives gustatory afferent information, also exerts descending control over taste neurons in the parabrachial nuclei (PbN) of the pons. The present studies were designed to investigate the role of descending amgydaloid projections to the NST in the modulation of gustatory activity. Extracellular action potentials were recorded from 109 taste-responsive cells in the NST of urethan-anesthetized hamsters and analyzed for a change in excitability following electrical and chemical stimulation of the CeA. Electrical stimulation of the CeA orthodromically modulated 36 of 109 (33.0%) taste-responsive NST cells. An excitatory response was observed in 33 (30.28%) cells. An initial decrease in excitability to electrical stimulation of the CeA, suggestive of postsynaptic inhibition, was observed in three (2.75%) NST taste cells. NST cells modulated by the CeA were significantly less responsive to taste stimuli than cells that were not. Many of these cells were under the modulatory influence of the contralateral CeA (28/36 = 77.8%) as well as the ipsilateral (22/36 = 61.1%); 14 (38.9%) were excited bilaterally. Latencies for excitation were longer after ipsilateral than after contralateral CeA stimulation. Microinjection of dl-homocysteic acid (DLH) into the CeA mimicked the effect of electrical stimulation on each of the nine cells tested: DLH excited eight and inhibited one of these electrically activated NST cells. Application of subthreshold electrical stimulation to the CeA during taste trials increased the taste responses of every CeA-responsive NST cell ( n = 7) tested with this protocol. These effects would enhance taste discriminability by increasing the signal-to-noise ratio of taste-evoked activity.


1994 ◽  
Vol 76 (2) ◽  
pp. 602-609 ◽  
Author(s):  
R. F. Fregosi

Experiments were designed to test two hypotheses regarding the influence of isocapnic hypoxia on the expiratory activity of the abdominal muscles: 1) brain hypoxia attenuates the increased drive to the abdominal muscles that is elicited by hypoxic stimulation of peripheral chemoreceptor afferents, and 2) activation of the abdominal muscles in hypoxia requires vagal afferent feedback. The measurements included inspired ventilation (VI) and the electromyogram (EMG) of the external and internal oblique and transversus abdominis muscles in 12 supine cats that were anesthetized with chloralose (50 mg/kg) and breathed spontaneously. Changes in respiratory drive were evoked with isocapnic hypoxia or electrical stimulation of a carotid sinus nerve. Although both stimuli increased abdominal motor output, carotid sinus nerve stimulation evoked a significantly greater increase in the external and internal oblique EMG than hypoxia when comparisons were made at an equivalent level of VI. Neither stimulus changed the abdominal EMG significantly after bilateral cervical vagotomy. Separate experiments revealed that, at a given level of VI, hypercapnia evoked a significantly greater increase in abdominal activity than isocapnic hypoxia. The results suggest that the increased drive to the abdominal muscles elicited by stimulation of the peripheral and central chemoreceptors can be antagonized by an inhibitory input that is triggered by brain hypoxia. Moreover the decrease in expiratory motor activity often observed during hypoxia in vagotomized animals is due to the removal of an excitatory mechanism that is mediated by vagal afferent feedback.


2011 ◽  
Vol 7 (2) ◽  
pp. 89 ◽  
Author(s):  
Maria Teresa La Rovere ◽  
Roberto Maestri ◽  
Gian Domenico Pinna ◽  
◽  
◽  
...  

The baroreflex mechanism has been recognised as a key part of cardiovascular regulation. Alterations in the baroreceptor-heart rate reflex (baroreflex sensitivity [BRS]) contribute to sympathetic–parasympathetic imbalance, playing a major role in the development and progression of many cardiovascular disorders. Therefore, the measurement of the baroreflex is a source of valuable information in the clinical management of cardiac disease patients. This article reviews the most relevant advances for the measurement of BRS and their clinical and prognostic implications. Novel therapeutic strategies, exploring the use of electrical stimulation of the carotid sinus, have been evaluated recently in experimental and preliminary clinical studies to lower blood pressure and to reduce the level of baroreflex-mediated sympathoexcitation in heart failure. A recent study has also shown that the implementation of an artificial baroreflex system to regulate sympathetic vasomotor tone automatically is feasible.


2020 ◽  
Vol 43 (10) ◽  
pp. 1057-1067 ◽  
Author(s):  
Gean Domingos-Souza ◽  
Fernanda Machado Santos-Almeida ◽  
César Arruda Meschiari ◽  
Nathanne S. Ferreira ◽  
Camila A. Pereira ◽  
...  

1964 ◽  
Vol 207 (2) ◽  
pp. 303-307 ◽  
Author(s):  
B. J. Prout ◽  
J. H. Coote ◽  
C. B. B. Downman

In cats anesthetized with chloralose-urethane mixture, stimulation of an afferent nerve evoked a vasoconstrictor reflex (VCR) and a galvanic skin response (GSR) in the pads of the feet. Stimulation of the ventromedial medullary reticular substance at the level of the obex abolished the VCR and the GSR. VCR could also be reduced by occlusion during prolonged stimulation of another spinal or visceral afferent pathway. Medulla stimulation was effective without itself causing a sympathetic discharge to the paw, showing that inhibition rather than occlusion was operative. Anterior cerebellar stimulation also inhibited the VCR. Carotid sinus nerve stimulation did not abolish the VCR. It is concluded that the effective mechanism includes a bulbospinal inhibitory path projecting on a spinal vasoconstrictor reflex arc. This arrangement is similar to the descending pathways inhibiting other spinal reflexes but the VCR-inhibitory path can be activated independently of them.


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