Evidence that the lateral tegmental field plays an important role in the central sympathoinhibitory action of 8-OH-DPAT.

We examined the effects of 8-OH-DPAT and 5-HT on three types of sympathetic-related neurons identified in the lateral tegmental field of anesthetized cats using spike-triggered averaging techniques. Based on their response to baroreceptor activation, these neurons could be classified as sympathoexcitatory, sympathoinhibitory, or baroreceptor activation unresponsive. 8-OH-DPAT administered intravenously was found to inhibit sympathoexcitatory neurons with a high degree of correlation to inhibition of sympathetic activity, and to excite sympathoinhibitory neurons in a dose-dependent manner. Iontophoretic application of 8-OH-DPAT and 5-HT to the majority of sympathoexcitatory neurons caused inhibition of spontaneous activity while iontophoretic application of 8-OH-DPAT to sympathoinhibitory neurons had variable effects although 5-HT consistently caused excitation. Baroreceptor unresponsive neurons were insensitive to iontophoretic 8-OH-DPAT and showed only limited response to 5-HT. It is concluded that the lateral tegmental field plays an important role in the sympathoinhibitory action of 8-OH-DPAT.