The distribution of the Fos-immunoreactive (Fos-ir) and NADPH-diaphorase-positive/NOS-containing neurons in the medulla and thoracic spinal cord in rats was studied after the veratrine injection into v. jugularis ext. followed by reproduction of the Bezold-Jarisch reflex. Fos-ir neurons were found in the nucleus tractus solitarius (Sol), coudoventrolateral (CVL) and rostroventrolateral (RVL) areas, intermediate reticular nucleus (IRt), and lateral paragiganrocellular nucleus (LPGi) of the medulla. The intensity of c-fos expression was as follows: Sol > CVL > RVL > LPGi. The intensity of NADPH-diapho- rase reactivity was manifested in the following sequence: Sol > IRt > LPGi > RVL. In comparison to sham-operated animals, application of veratrine is associated with a statistically sig- nificant increase (P < 0.01) of the mean number of Fos-ir neurons in the Sol and CVL, but not in the RVL. Double- labelling (Fos + NADPH) was found in a small number (about 2%) of neurones in the Sol, IRt and LPGi. In the thoracic spinal cord Fos-ir neurons were predominantly detected in the superficial layers of the dorsal horn, area around the central canal and the intermediate lateral or medial nuclei (IMl and IMM), where NOS-containing neurons in the thoracic spinal cord were accumulated. Received data show that signals arising from the veratrine-activated cardiopulmonary afferents acti- vate neurons of the Sol and CVL that togеther with the RVL are incorporated into neuronal circuits for generation of the Bezold-Jarisch reflex. In the medulla NOS-containing neurons activated by input from cardiopulmonary receptors can con- tribute to the enhancement of cardioprotective depressor reflexes in the rats.