Influence of cholinergic drugs on the lateral geniculate phasic waves

The lateral geniculate phasic wave (GL wave, GLW) was studied at awaking, during the REM period of sleep (REMP) and after administration of reserpine (RSP) and parachlorophenylalanine (PCPA). The GLWs were classified by the time relation to the eye movements (EMs) into three groups of the GL-preceding GLW (GLWs precede EMs or concur with EMs), the EM-preceding GLW (EMs precede GLWs) and the EM-discording GLW (GLWs not associated with EMs). Changes in occurrence of thus classified GLWs and in the EM-GLW time (time delay between EM and GLW) were examined with supplementary administration of eserine and atropine. The results were as follows: 1. During the REMP, the EM-GLW time of the GL-preceding GLW showed shortening by eserine and prolongation by atropine. On the other hand, the EM-GLW time of the EM-preceding GLW was recognized no definite affection. 2. After the administration of RSP and PCPA, the GL-preceding GLWs increased soon after the eserine injection whereas markedly decreased after atropine. In the atropine-pretreated cats, the occurrence of the GL-preceding GLWs by RSP was inhibited. These drugs exerted little influence on the occurrence of the EM-preceding GLWs. 3. These results suggest that cholinergic mechanisms underlie the production of the GL-preceding GLWs but don't play an important role in the production of the EM-preceding GLWs.