Effect of stimulation of bulbar reticular formation on long latency discharges in the region of nucleus centralis lateralis of thalamus.

Electrical stimulation of medial medullary reticular formation of rabbits was found to have marked inhibitory effect on nociceptive discharges of neurons in the region of centrolateral nucleus of thalamus. Among the 32 nociceptive units tested, 15 showed the inhibitory effect, 3 the facilitatory, and 14 no effect. Comparison between the effect of direct stimulation of medial medullary reticular formation and that of the electric needling on the same neurons revealed a general resemblance of the two in many respects. These findings suggest that the nucleus reticularis gigantocellularis in medial bulbar reticular formation may serve as an important relay station in the transmission of the analgesic effect of acupuncture.