Differential distribution of three types of nociceptive neurons within the caudal bulbar reticular formation in the cat.

Nociceptive neurons within the reticular formation (RF) caudal to the obex were studied. 197 units recorded from the lateral part of subnucleus reticularis ventralis had receptive fields in the head, 72 units recorded from the medial RF in the body, and 160 units recorded from the middle third of RF in the head and body. About half of the units tested were antidromically excited by stimulation of nucleus centralis lateralis.