A single unit analysis of trigeminal projections to bulbar reticular nuclei of the rat.

Abstract

AbstractThe lateral bulbar reticular formation of anesthetized rats was explored with microelectrodes in order to compare the response and field characteristics of its somatosensory cells with properties of units located in the adjacent spinal trigeminal complex. Responses were evoked in the cells using natural and electrical stimulation of the skin. Neurons in the reticular nuclei tended to exihibit long latencies, low folowing capacities and large receptive fields. On the other hand, trigeminal complex cells generally revealed opposite characteristics, more typical of primary sensory structures, such as short latencies, high following capacities and punctate‐to‐small fields. The distinction between the regions was emphasized by additional qualities which were peculiar to the reticular neurons: Bilateral peripheral representation, into very coarse mechnical stimulation. In amny respects, the data indicate that the lateral reticular formation is intimately involved in the mediation of facial pain. They also support the view that it participated in this function by regulating the flow of nocioceptive activity from receptive mechanisms of the skin to the lemniscal pathway.