Physiological properties and afferent connections of the locus coeruleus and adjacent tegmental neurons involved in the generation of paradoxical sleep in the cat

Abstract

Results reported here confirm and extend those of early retrograde transport studies of the brainstem in the rat and cat. This study demonstrates substantial and multiple afferent projections to the cat locus coeruleus arising from neurons containing acetylcholine, serotonin, norepinephrine, epinephrine, dopamine, histamine, and neuropeptides such as methionine, enkephaline and substance P. Further, our studies reveal notable differences in afferent projection to the noradrenergic and cholinergic regions of the locus coeruleus.