Vocalization and marked pressor effect evoked from the region of the nucleus retroambigualis in the caudal ventrolateral medulla of the cat.
It is well established that the nucleus retroambigualis (NRA) of the cat contains a population of expiratory-related neurons. We report here that in the unanesthetized, decerebrate cat, microinjections of 300-900 pmol of D,L-homocysteic acid within the NRA evoked excitation of laryngeal as well as expiratory muscles, and often pressor responses. Moreover, vocalizations, which did not sound like normal feline vocalizations (i.e., hiss, howl, mew, growl), were evoked from a restricted region of the NRA, 1-3 mm caudal to the obex. The results indicate that in addition to its role in expiration: (i) the NRA plays an important role in the control of laryngeal muscles and the production of vocalization; and (ii) that neurons in the NRA region can modulate arterial pressure.
Zhang
S P
SP
Department of Anatomy, University of Sydney, N.S.W., Australia.
Davis
P J
PJ
Carrive
P
P
Bandler
R
R
D000818:Animals; D001370:Axonal Transport; D001794:Blood Pressure / Q000187:drug effects*; D002415:Cats / Q000033:anatomy & histology / Q000502:physiology*; D003655:Decerebrate State; D004576:Electromyography; D005260:Female; D006339:Heart Rate / Q000187:drug effects; D006710:Homocysteine / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000031:analogs & derivatives / Q000494:pharmacology; D006735:Horseradish Peroxidase; D007821:Laryngeal Muscles / Q000187:drug effects / Q000294:innervation / Q000502:physiology*; D008297:Male; D008526:Medulla Oblongata / Q000033:anatomy & histology* / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology*; D008845:Microinjections; D009474:Neurons / Q000166:cytology / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology*; D012132:Respiratory Muscles / Q000187:drug effects / Q000294:innervation / Q000502:physiology*; D014828:Vocalization, Animal / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology*; D018998:Wheat Germ Agglutinin-Horseradish Peroxidase Conjugate; D014909:Wheat Germ Agglutinins
D018998:Wheat Germ Agglutinin-Horseradish Peroxidase Conjugate; D014909:Wheat Germ Agglutinins; D006710:Homocysteine; C007956:homocysteic acid; D006735:Horseradish Peroxidase