ISSN:
1432-2072
Source:
Springer Online Journal Archives 1860-2000
Topics:
Medicine
Notes:
Summary The electrical activity of the olfactory bulb was studied on twenty adult female rabbits, weighing 2.5–3.5 kg each, in five acute and fifteen chronic preparations. The olfactory bulb, in the chronically implanted rabbit, elicited an electrical activity showing two types of potentials: a) “slow” waves of 2–4 c/sec and “superimposed” waves of 55–65 c/sec. Both of these potentials are induced by inspiration, and called the Respiratory Waves. The “superimposed” waves are regarded as a stimulated form of the spontaneous and persistent Intrinsic Waves of the bulb of the acute tracheotomized rabbit. The Respiratory Waves are considered to be a normal pattern for the awake state of the animal. This pattern is depressed during states of relaxation and sleep, where the activity of the reticular activating system is suppressed. Likewise, pharmacological CNS depressants such as barbiturates and chlorpromazine, given intravenously to the animal, show a significant suppression of the Respiratory Waves, correlated to the degree of sedation and depression of the animal. On the other hand, amphetamine sulphate and LSD-25, known for their central stimulant effect, induced potentiation of the Respiratory Waves which is evident in the increase in frequency of both potentials. The above physiological and pharmacodynamic findings come to emphasize the presence of a centrifugal CNS mechanism, playing an important role in the initiation of the electrical activity of the olfactory bulb. It may be concluded accordingly that the olfactory bulb electrical activity could serve as an additional tool in studying the possible mode of action of agents effecting CNS activity.
Type of Medium:
Electronic Resource
URL:
http://dx.doi.org/10.1007/BF00401384
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