1. The conditions for inducement of spindle bursts were studied, in correlation with the hippocampal EEG, using the midpontine pretrigeminal transected preparation.
2. The slow and fast components of hippocampal EEG were demonstrated to be enhanced or depressed independently.
3. Stimulation of the central cut end of the left vagus (the right vagus intact) induced spindle bursts in the motor cortex, together with enhancement of the hippocampal fast component. This effect was observed after bilateral cervical sympathetic trunk section, but disappeared after contralateral vagotomy.
Stimulation of the peripheral cut end of the vagus caused a marked fall in blood pressure, but neither spindle bursts nor enhancement of the hippocampal fast component.
4. Transient clamping of the abdominal aorta induced few spindle bursts during the recovery phase of blood pressure. Clamping of the common carotid induced spindle bursts also. In both cases the hippocampal slow component diminished and no enhancement of the fast component was observed.
5. Small doses of pentobarbital induced many spindle bursts accompanied by enhancement of the hippocampal fast component, and abolition of the hippocampal slow component.
6. During hyperventilation the transient enhancement of the hippocampa: fast component were observed concomitantly with the spindle appearance, but the slow component showed no consistent change (either enhanced or remained the same level).
7. Low frequency stimulation of the mesencephalic reticular formation induced spindle bursts if the hippocampal fast component was enhanced alone, but no spindle bursts were induced if both the slow and fast components were enhanced.
8. These observations suggest a humoral factor for spindle inducement, and also indicate a close relationship between the spindle-inducing mechanism and production of the hippocampal fast component.
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