title: Reticular activating system of a central pattern generator: premovement electrical potentials.
abstract: For the first time, here we characterize a bulbar reticular activating system (RAS) of neurons in decerebrate, deafferented and decerebellated cats producing a premovement electrical potential that we named obex slow potential (OSP). The OSP occurs about 0.8 ± 0.4 sec prior to the onset of a fictive-scratching-episode. Here, we describe two classes of bulbar neurons, off-on, which are silent but exhibit a 80 ± 56 Hz firing discharge at the beginning of (and during) the OSP, and on-off interneurons, with a 27 ± 14 Hz firing activity that stops at the beginning of (and during) the OSP. We suggest that these OSP-associated neurons belong to a descending RAS, which contributes to the activation of the spinal central pattern generators.
authors.affiliation: Institute of Physiology, Benemérita Universidad Autónoma de Puebla 14 Sur 6301, Col. San Manuel, Puebla, Puebla, CP 72570, México ; School of Biology, Benemérita Universidad Autónoma de Puebla 14 Sur 6301, Col. San Manuel, Puebla, Puebla, CP 72570, México.
authors.forename: Jesus A
authors.initials: JA
authors.lastname: Tapia
authors.forename: Argelia
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Trejo
authors.forename: Pablo
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Linares
authors.forename: J Manuel
authors.initials: JM
authors.lastname: Alva
authors.forename: Rumyana
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Kristeva
authors.forename: Elias
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Manjarrez
keywords: Dorsal horn neurons; locomotion; scratch reflex; scratching; slow oscillations; spinal rehabilitation