A. Martinezcervantes et al., EFFECT OF REPEATED PENICILLIN MICROINJECT IONS IN RAFE DORSAL NUCLEUSON SLEEP ORGANIZATION DURING 23 HRS REGISTER IN THE CAT, Salud mental, 20, 1997, pp. 23-31
The effect of repeated ''G'' sodic penicillin (Pn) microinjections (50
-IU/1 mu l) in the nucleus raphe dorsalis (NDR) of free-moving cats wa
s investigated. The following variables were measured: a) progressive
behavioral changes evolution recorded and analyzed in videotape, and b
) analysis of sleep organization and architecture, measured by 23 bour
s recordings. The results shows that Pn microinjection in the NDR fail
to induce interictal spikes. paroxysms and generalized convulsive sei
zures. The Pn repeated microinjection does not produce important chang
es in the layout and organization of sleep. Nevertheless the increment
of rapid eye movement sleep percentage and total time was significant
. Another significant finding was the appearance of compulsive groomin
g. The chemical stimulation of the NDR induce similar behavioral chang
es as the electrical stimulation of the same nucleus.