The role of reticular activating system in altering medial preoptic neuronal activity in anesthetized rats

The influence of the ascending reticular activating system (ARAS) on the medial preoptic unit activity was studied in urethane anesthetized rats. Alterations in the unit activity were also correlated with cortical EEG changes. A fourth of the medial preoptic units showed alterations in their discharges with cortical EEG changes. These units were also influenced by high frequency stimulation of ARAS, which simultaneously produced EEG desynchronization. On the other hand they were generally not influenced by 1 Hz stimulation of ARAS. These results indicate that the anatomically demonstrated projections from midbrain (forming ARAS), involving very few synapses, may not be involved in the regulation of sleep-wakeful function of the medial preoptic area. Interaction of some of the inputs at the medial preoptic area is discussed.