Identification of spinally projecting neurones in the A1 catecholamine cell group of the ventrolateral medulla

In anaesthetized rats, neurones were found in the ventrolateral medulla that responded to antidromic stimulation of their axons in the thoracic spinal cord. These neurones were identified as being antidromic, according to various established electrophysiological criteria. A total of 44 antidromically identified neurones were found, 23 had conduction velocities below 2.0 m/s. Many (70%) had ongoing activity with a slow firing rate (0.2-5.0 Hz). Catecholamine-containing cells were visualized in this ventrolateral region using a modified Mg+-catalyzed glyoxylic acid technique and revealed multipolar, small diameter cells (17-20 microns) which were diffusely scattered (as demonstrated in previous histofluorescence studies). The Pontamine sky blue-marked recording sites of 7 units (0.3-1.1 m/s) showed close apposition to a CA-fluorescent cell whilst a further 4 (2.0-2.7 m/s) could not be correlated with the presence of a fluorescent cell. The results are discussed in the light of recent data in the rat, suggesting that the spinal cord catecholamine innervation arises from brainstem cell groups other than A1.