Synaptic interactions in neurones of the rat rostral ventrolateral medulla oblongata

Increasing number of studies indicate that stimulation of peripheral nerves elicits complex postsynaptic responses in neurones of the ventral medulla oblongata. The present study describes a recommended protocol for intracellular recording of complex postsynaptic events in neurones of the ventral medulla oblongata. The aim was to provide surgical and experimental details that will enable successful recording of slow synaptic responses in vivo, in addition to the recording of fast evoked responses. The existence of slow inhibitory responses to stimulation of the cervical vagus and sciatic nerves have already been demonstrated together with the existence of convergent visceral and viscero-somatic inputs to neurones here. The data collected in over 200 neurones so far indicated that neurones of the rostral ventrolateral medulla oblongata play an important and versatile role in the integration of somato-visceral sensory inputs.