Participation of the reticular formation of the pons in the regulation of blood clotting

Summary

In unanesthetized rabbits with electrodes implanted into the cerebral cortex and into the reticular formation of pons varolii a study was made of the effect produced by the stimulation of the reticular formation of pons varolii on the electric activity of these portions of the brain, blood coagulation time and of the factor V, prothrombin and heparin content in the blood.

Following stimulation of the rostral and caudal portions of the reticular formation of pons varolii-blood coagulation was accelerated, prothrombin level increased, whereas factor V and heparin concentrations dropped. With the same stimulation of the medial, portion of the pons Varolii reticular formation there sets in, at first, a transitory acceleration of blood coagulation which is then followed by its deceleration and the reduction of factor V and prothrombin blood content. The EEG “activation reaction” is mostly accompanied by acceleration of blood coagulation, whereas an increase of the slow oscillations amplitude and the acceleration of “spindle” bursts—by its deceleration. The EEG normalizes earlier than the initial blood coagulation time does.