Studies investigating the integrative central control of the locomotor and cardiovascular system have mostly been conducted
in rats. These studies have shown that control of cardiovascular responses is located in neurons in close proximity, if not
overlapping or possibly identical to, neurons responsible for respiratory and locomotor control. In rats cardiorespiratory
and locomotor centers have been identified in the periaqueductal gray (PAG), posterior hypothalamic area (PHA), nucleus tractus
solitarius (NTS), rostral ventrolateral medulla (rVLM), and the cuneiform nucleus (CnF). Of these, the PH has been clearly
identified as both a locomotor and cardiovascular center.1
The CnF, with the pedunculopontine nucleus, has been identified as the mesencephalic locomotor center.2,3 The spinal cord and the lateral tegmental field (LTF) have been identified as integration sites for cardiorespiratory and
locomotor responses.4 Interestingly, exercise training induced attenuation of dendritic fields of neurons in the exercising rat model.1