Ascending and descending brainstem neuronal activity during cystometry in decerebrate cats

Aims This study was undertaken to examine the distribution of pontomedullary neurons related to micturition or urine storage, as well as the connections between the pontine micturition center (PMC), medullary neurons, and the spinal cord. Methods In decerebrate cats, extracellular recording of the rostral pontine and rostral medullary neurons was performed. Firing of each neuron was quantitated during cystometry. Connections between the PMC, medullary neurons, and the spinal cord (L1) were also examined electrophysiologically. Results Ninety‐four neurons showed an increase or decrease of the firing rate during micturition. Units with an antidromic response to L1 stimulation and an increased firing rate were located in the nucleus locus coeruleus alpha (LCa; n = 8) corresponding to the PMC, and in the medial reticular formation (MRF) of the medulla (n = 14). Units showing a decreased firing rate were located in the nucleus reticularis pontis oralis (PoO; n = 26) and in the MRF (n = 11). The latencies of antidromic and orthodromic responses of the LCa units were longer than those of the PoO units. MRF neurons responded antidromically and/or orthodromically to stimulation of the PMC or L1. Conclusions These results suggest that the pathway concerned with urine storage has a faster spinobulbospinal loop than the micturition reflex pathway and that rostral medullary neurons also play an important role in micturition and urine storage. There may be two descending pathways between the PMC and the spinal cord: both a direct pathway and one by means of medullary neurons. Neurourol. Urodynam. 22:343–350, 2003. © 2003 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.