Intracranial pressure variations associated with activation of the cholinoceptive pontine inhibitory area in the unanesthetized drug-free cat

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Abstract
✓ Intracranial pressure (ICP) was recorded continuously in chronically prepared, unanesthetized cats in order to investigate the effects on ICP of the cholinergic agonist, carbamylcholine (carbachol), injected by microsyringe needles into the dorsal pontine tegmentum. As reported previously, carbachol microinjections into the medial part of the cholinoceptive pontine inhibitory area (CPIA) located ventromedially to the locus coeruleus produced a comatose state characterized by a profound unresponsiveness to external stimuli, desynchronized electroencephalograms (EEG's), and suppression of postural somatomotor and sympathetic visceromotor functions. Four of six ICP records following carbachol microinjections into the CPIA showed small but significant increases which occurred in association with these carbachol effects. Tracings of ICP increases ranged up to 3.2 mm Hg and were similar in shape to plateau waves. The start and resolution of these carbachol-induced ICP variations were closely associated with t...