title: Arterial pressure- and cardiac rhythm-related single-neuron activities in the nucleus reticularis gigantocellularis of the rat.
abstract: This communication presents an analysis of 531 extracellularly recorded spontaneously active nucleus reticularis gigantocellularis (NRGC) single-neurons in pentobarbital anesthetized rats, with particular reference to their cardiovascular-related activities. Fifty-nine percent of the gigantocellular neurons evaluated had temporal relationship with induced or spontaneous arterial pressure fluctuations. Twenty-eight percent of the NRGC neurons manifested definite discharge patterns and periodicity with reference to the cardiac cycle. It is discussed that these gigantocellular neurons may serve as a primary component of the cardiovascular regulatory mechanism. Alternatively, they may coordinate the necessary circulatory support for activities varying from respiration to somatomotor functions or sleep-wakefulness.
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001794:Blood Pressure / Q000187:drug effects; D002320:Cardiovascular Physiological Phenomena; D004594:Electrophysiology; D005071:Evoked Potentials; D005154:Facial Nerve / Q000502:physiology*; D006339:Heart Rate; D008297:Male; D009474:Neurons / Q000502:physiology*; D010656:Phenylephrine / Q000494:pharmacology; D051381:Rats; D011919:Rats, Inbred Strains; D011930:Reaction Time
chemical_list: D010656:Phenylephrine