An electrophysiological study on relations between the activity of the central nervous system and uterine movement.
1973 Volume 25 Issue 4 Pages 424-454
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1973 Volume 25 Issue 4 Pages 424-454
An electrophysiological study was made of rabbits as to relations between uterine movement and the activity of the central nervous system with the following results:
1. Following 100Hz stimulation of the brain stem reticular formation, there appeared arousal reaction in EEG and evoked muscular discharge in the fore and hind limbs, accompanied by a marked acceleration of uterine movement.
2. The accelerated uterine movement accompanying aro usal reaction was abolished not by a destruction of the infundibulum, but by a transection of the spinal cord. Accordingly, it was considered that an accelerating impulse passing from the brain stem reticular formation to the uterus on appearance of arousal reaction was likely to work efferently.
3. Fro m the results of experimental destruction of the hypothalamus, the system which accelerated uterine movement was demonstrated to exist in the hypothalamus.
4. From the responses of various drugs to arousal reaction and ute rine movement, the system which accelerated uterine movement was subjected to inhibitory influence of the ascending reticular activating system.
5. Morphine and barbiturate were studied as to their actions on average afferent evoked potential developing in the cerebral cortex on stimulus of the uterus, and their results were found to be different from those responses to average afferent evoked potential due to stimulation of the sciatic nerve.
6. Spontaneous unit discharge was record ed with a microelectrode from the brain stem reticular formation and CM, and studies were made of influences of uterine stimulus on the recordings and the action of pentazocine used as an analgesic. As a result, recordings were obtained of unit discharge which was considered to respond to uterine pain. The ab ove data led to clarification that the nerve fibers that connect the central nervous system with the uterus were different in nature from those of the autonomic nervous system or the somatic nervous system and that, nevertheless, the same as long as pain itself was concerned.
