BRAINSTEM RETICULAR SYSTEM AND GALVANIC SKIN REFLEX IN ACUTE DECEREBRATE CATS

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Abstract
Galvanic skin reflex (GSR) is abolished in cats decerebrated at intercollicular level, but not in either thalamic or spinal cats. This suggests that GSR is abolished in decerebrate cats by inhibitory action of a certain rhomemcephalic nervous structure on spinal sympathetic sudo-motor neurons. Experiments were performed to test whether or not anesthetization of bulbar ventromedial reticular formation, whose stimulation inhibits somatic as well as autonomic reflexes, would cause reappearance of inhibited GSR in decerebrate cats. Anesthetization was done by injection of 0.05 ml of 2% aqueous solution of xylocaine hydrochloride or procaine hydrochloride into bulbar ventromedial reticular formation on both sides, and by cooling bulb at obex. Injection of a local anesthetic caused reappearance of GSR in decerebrate cats; after reaching a steady level, GSR intensity gradually decreased to zero again, as action of local anesthetic waned. Cooling bulb also caused reappearance of GSR in decerebrate cats; its intensity gradually decreased to zero again after cessation of cooling; warming bulb following cooling it hastened re-abolition of GSR.

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