Monosynaptic excitation of preganglionic vasomotor neurons by subretrofacial neurons of the rostral ventrolateral medulla

Abstract

Extracellular single unit recordings were made from barosensitive neurons in the subretrofacial nucleus (SRF) of the rostral ventrolateral medulla in chloralose-anaesthetised cats. At the same time, single preganglionic neuron activity was recorded from filaments of the cervical sympathetic trunk (CST); barosensitive units were selected for study. Evidence for monosynaptic connections between the two neuron groups was sought by cross-correlation analysis of their ongoing activity. Cross-correlograms of 16/16 SRF/CST neuron pairs showed a broad peak (100-200ms wide), reflecting the synchronising action of arterial baroreceptors on both neurons' activity. Two of the 16 cross-correlograms addit..