An origin of carotid vasodilation extends along the full extent of the parasympathetic parvicellular reticular region in the rat brainstem

During grooming in rats, cranial parasympathetic activation leads to increased carotid artery blood flow, but the brainstem origin of this vasodilation signal is poorly understood. The aim of this study was to map brainstem sites wherein chemical stimulation with L-cysteine, an ionotropic excitatory amino acid receptor activator, can trigger carotid vasodilation in anesthetized intact and superior cervical sympathectomized (SCD) rats. The right side of the brainstem was accessed ventrally; arterial blood pressure and right carotid artery flow resistance were monitored.
Source: Autonomic Neuroscience: Basic and Clinical - Category: Neuroscience Authors: Source Type: research