The pontomesencephalic tegmentum delays the peak latency of the visual evoked potential in rats

In previous experiments it was found that physostigmine application in unrestrained rats delayed the peak latency of the visual evoked potential (VEP). The present study was carried out to find the putative site that cholinergically mediates the latency delay of rat's VEP. After unilateral ibotenic acid lesions of the nucleus basalis magnocellularis (NBM) and the pedunculopontine tegmental nucleus (PPTg), respectively, the VEPs of freely moving rats were recorded in different behavioural states. While NBM lesion did not alter the behavioural modulation of the VEP latency, the PPTg lesion produced shorter VEP latencies in the occipital cortex of the lesioned hemisphere in high and moderate arousal states. The peak latency shortening was significant for exploratory sniffing. Physostigmine but not nicotine application abolished the shorter VEP latency. The results indicate a muscarinic mechanism within the pontomesencephalic tegmentum that ipsilaterally delayed the VEP latency in high and moderate but not in low arousal states.