The effect of knee joint afferent discharge on transmission in flexion reflex pathways in decerebrate cats.

AUTOR(ES)

Baxendale, R H

RESUMO

1. Changes in excitability of reflex arcs mediating flexion withdrawal ad crossed extensor reflexes have been examined in decerebrate cats. 2. The excitability of flexion withdrawal and crossed extensor reflexes was shown to be modulated by knee joint position. Flexion withdrawal reflexes were most easily elicited when the knee was extended and crossed extensor reflexes were most easily elicited when the knee was flexed. 3. The modulation of transmission was not confined to reflex pathways to muscles acting at the knee but also included pathways to muscles acting at the hip and ankle, as well as pathways to muscles in the contralateral limb. 4. The changing excitability of reflex pathways caused by movement of the knee joint was unrelated to the stretch applied to muscles acting at the knee and to cutaneous afferent discharge. Modulation of reflex excitability by joint movement was totally abolished by local anaesthesia of the knee joint in an otherwise intact limb. 5. The results of the present experiments indicate that transmission in flexion reflex pathways can be inhibited by knee joint afferent discharge.

Documentos Relacionados

• Limitedly selective action of a delta-agonistic leu-enkephalin on the transmission in spinal motor reflex pathways in cats.
• Characteristics of ongoing and reflex discharge of single splenic and renal sympathetic postganglionic fibres in cats.
• Functional classification of afferent phrenic nerve fibres and diaphragmatic receptors in cats.
• Spatial patterns of reflex evoked by pressure stimulation of the foot pads in cats.
• The effect of static exercise on renal sympathetic nerve activity in conscious cats.