IMPAIRMENT OF BARORECEPTOR REFLEXES FOLLOWING KAINIC ACID LESIONS OF THE LATERAL TEGMENTAL FIELD

We examined the effects of kainic acid lesions of the lateral tegmenta l field on baroreceptor function in the anesthetized cat. Kainic acid lesions prevented the reflex inhibition of inferior cardiac sympatheti c nerve activity observed during an increase in blood pressure. The te mporal locking of sympathetic slow waves to the cardiac cycle was also abolished following lateral tegmental field lesions. Finally, the per iodicity of sympathetic nerve discharge shifted to a higher frequency range following kainic acid lesions. These observations are consistent with the conclusion that lesions of the lateral tegmental field impai r baroreceptor reflexes.