Sciatic and vagal sensory inputs converge onto non-baroreceptive neurones of the rostral ventrolateral medulla.

Previous data suggested that somatic and vagal sensory afferent inputs may converge in the rostral ventrolateral medulla oblongata (RVLM). The aim of the present study was to establish the existence of convergence between inputs mediated via the cervical vagus and contralateral sciatic nerves using in vivo intracellular recordings. The majority of RVLM neurones that received input from the vagus or the sciatic nerves also responded to stimulation of the other nerve. In 72% of the neurones the response was excitation or inhibition to stimulation of both nerves, respectively. The most frequent response type was a short excitation in response to stimulation of both nerves. Only 8% of the neurones exhibited a visible response to stimulation of the aortic depressor nerve. The results provided experimental evidence that non-baroreceptive neurones of the RVLM are involved in coordination of somatic and visceral sensory inputs.