The nucleus reticularis lateralis: a region highly sensitive to clonidine.

Slow bilateral microinjections of a low dose of clonidine (75 ng/kg) in the cat's nucleus reticularis lateralis (NRL) lead to significant hypotension and bradycardia. This finding confirms the existence of a ventromedullary highly sensitive site of action of clonidine. It is suggested that clonidine inhibits some vasopressive and cardioacceleratory structures within the NRL region.