STUDIES ON THE ADRENALINE-SENSITIVE COMPONENT OF THE MESENCEPHALIC RETICULAR FORMATION

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Abstract
Microelectrode studies were performed on cats anesthetized with nembutal or on encephale isole preparations. Neurons were found within the mesencephalic reticular formation which responded to sensory stimulation as well as to elevations of blood pressure through intravenous injections of adrenaline. Neurons which had been established to be sensitive to blood pressure elevations caused by adrenaline, showed the same changes in their discharge frequency after a mechanically produced rise in blood pressure. When blood pressure was kept constant artificially, there were no changes in electrical activity after intravenous adrenaline. The described effects are not caused by vagal afferents, since in all experiments the vagi were cut. The conclusion could be reached that there are presso-sensitive neurons within the mesencephalic reticular formation. It seems to be unlikely that intravenous adrenaline exerts a direct influence on the nerve cells of the ascending activating system.