Abstract
These studies demonstrate the presence of pontomedullary areas in the rat brainstem which, when stimulated electrically, serve to set postural muscle tone in the hindlimbs. Low amplitude stimulation of the dorsal tegmental field (DTF) was found to inhibit postural muscle tone and, in some rats, was found to decrease mean arterial pressure. Low amplitude stimulation of the ventral tegmental field (VTF) was found to increase postural muscle tone and, in all cases tested, was found to increase mean arterial pressure.
Publication types
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Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't
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Research Support, U.S. Gov't, P.H.S.
MeSH terms
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Animals
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Blood Pressure / drug effects
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Brain Stem / anatomy & histology
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Brain Stem / physiology
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Decerebrate State / physiopathology*
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Electric Stimulation
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Electromyography
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Hindlimb / innervation
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Hindlimb / physiology
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Motor Neurons / physiology
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Muscle Tonus / physiology*
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Posture / physiology*
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Rats
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Rats, Inbred Strains
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Sleep, REM / physiology
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Thalamus / anatomy & histology
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Thalamus / cytology
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Thalamus / physiology*