Chemical stimulation of red nucleus, substantia nigra, and basis pedunculi in alert cats

Abstract

Carbachol, eserine, strychnine, and reserpine were injected in crystalline form into the red nucleus, substantia nigra, and basis peduncu-li of 20 alert cats. The drugs appeared to have an excitatory action at these subcortical areas. The behavioral responses elicited by these injections often were specific to the type of drug and the site of the injection. Comparisons have been made of the responses produced by chemical stimulation and the responses produced by electric stimulation and ablation procedures by other investigators. The similarity and significance of some of the behavioral actions produced in the animals to various clinical neurological disturbances have been mentioned briefly.