[Influence of ethanol on the background activity of neurons in the lateral vestibular nucleus of the cat].

Abstract

Single intravenous administration of ethanol (1 g/kg) to experimental cats influences 95% of investigated neurons of the lateral vestibular nucleus. In most (56.5%) neurons possessing primarily high-frequency background activity of the uninterrupted arrhythmic type ethanol administration has caused a decrease in the impulsation frequency by 84-93%; 14.5% neurons of the burst-group activity demonstrate a primary distinct increase of the average frequency of discharges, prolongation of bursts and the numbers of impulses in them changed 20-30 min after ethanol administration by sharp inhibition of the background activity up to its complete ceasing. A distinct exciting effect has arisen due to the ethanol effect during the whole period of observation in 23.6% of neurons mostly with primary low frequency of the background activity. The rehabilitation of the activity up to the primary level as a rule did not appear even 90 min later. Repeated administration of ethanol in the same dose has induced a cumulative effect.