Texture discrimination and multi-unit recording in the rat vibrissal nerve.

Background: Rats distinguish objects differing in surface texture by actively moving their vibrissae. In this paper we characterized some aspects of texture sensing in anesthetized rats during active touch. We analyzed the multifiber discharge from a deep vibrissal nerve when the vibrissa sweeps materials (wood, metal, acrylic, sandpaper) having different textures.

Blockage of vibrissal afferents: III. Electrocorticographic effects.

We have shown signs of behavioral depression after vibrissal deafferentation. Locomotor slowing, motor impairments and footshock thresholds increment were demonstrated after vibrissal afferent blockages. Here, we study the electrocortical (ECoG) effects of vibrissal pad anaesthesia, also replicated by bilateral brachial plexus blockage.

Blockage of vibrissae afferents: II. Footshock threshold increments.

Because of their dense innervation rat vibrissae have been regarded as a very important sensory system. Many behavioral deficits have been reported by other authors after rat vibrissal afferent blockades. In the present work we found significant threshold increments to footshock following either reversible nerve block (procaine or nerve pressure) or section of the vibrissal afferent nerves, but not following vibrissae trimming.

Blockage of vibrissae afferents: I. Motor effects.

In the past, it has been proposed that the rat vibrissae play an important role in other hand, postural abnormalities, muscle tone decreases and hypomotility after sensory organ destructions were proposed as evidence supporting the "level setting" or "tonic" hypothesis. This hypothesis postulates that afferent activity, besides its well know transductive functions, sets the excitability state of the central nervous system. We thought the vibrissal system to be a good model to dissect these two postulated roles because vibrissae trimming would annul the transductive function without affecting the integrity of nerve activity.

Epinephrine reduces the nerve conduction blockage induced by high-potassium in mammalian sciatic nerve.

We investigated the effects of epinephrine on the reversible nerve conduction block induced by high [K(+)](o) using electrophysiological extracellular recordings in the isolated rat sciatic nerve in vitro. Bath application of 400 micro M epinephrine (EN) or norepinephrine (NE) reduced the high-potassium-induced compound action potentials (CAPs) blockage in both sensory and motor fibers. The beta-adrenoreceptor agonist isoproterenol mimicked the EN effect while the alpha-adrenoreceptor agonists phenylephrine and guanfacine did not affect the CAPs reduction.

Differential effects of superior and inferior spermatic nerves on testosterone secretion and spermatic blood flow in cats.

It has been postulated that testosterone secretion is partially regulated by signals from the spermatic nerves. To further examine this hypothesis in vivo, the superior (SSN) or the inferior (ISN) spermatic nerves were stimulated electrically (varying intensity, 25 Hz, 0.2 msec, 10 min) in anesthetized cats, determining the testosterone concentration and the blood flow in the spermatic vein.

Role of the stretch reflex in oxotremorine tremor.

Although the basic mechanism for parkinsonian tremor is known to be central, the case for the oscillator(s) of physiological tremor and shivering is still a matter of dispute. In this case, an important role has been proposed for muscle afferents. Oxotremorine tremor has in common with shivering its frequency range (10-28 Hz) and the co-contraction of flexors and extensors.

Effect of regional spinal cord blood flow and central control in recovery from spinal cord injury.

Forty-two cats were subjected to decerebration, thoracic and lumbar laminectomies, and isolation of the sciatic nerves. Spinal evoked potentials in response to bilateral sciatic nerve stimulation were recorded at L-3, and the spinal cord blood flow (SCBF) was measured by the hydrogen clearance technique. Thoracic cordotomy did not alter the lumbar SCBF or the central conduction time as determined by spinal evoked potentials.

Electronmicroscopic and electrophysiological studies of the teat branch of the XIII thoracic nerve: relationship with lactation in the rat.

Electrical stimulation of the XIII thoracic nerve (the 'mammary nerve') causes milk ejection and the release of prolactin and other hormones. We have analysed the route of the suckling stimulus at the level of different subgroups of fibres of the teat branch of the XIII thoracic nerve (TBTN), which innervates the nipple and surrounding skin, and assessed the micromorphology of the TBTN in relation to lactation. There were 844 +/- 63 and 868 +/- 141 (S.

Effects of "partial axotomy" upon synaptic function.

A lesion limited to the dorsal columns, at the level of L3-L4, was carried out in chronic cats. This operation produced a "partial axotomy" type of lesion on the ascending branches of Ia hind limb afferents. Two to six months after this operation, intracellular studies on L7-S1 motoneurons were carried out.

Control of blood flow in the cat spinal cord.

Spinal cord blood flow (SCBF) and the effect of end-tidal CO2 concentration (ETCO2) on SCBF (CO2 reactivity) were studied in the lumbar spinal cord of cats by means of the hydrogen-clearance technique Hydrogen gas was administered by inhalation, and its level in spinal cord tissue was estimated amperometrically with small (75 micrometers) platinum electrodes. The average SCBF's at normocapnia (ETCO2 = 4%) of the ventral horn gray matter and of the white matter at several locations were 43.2 and 16.

Long-lasting facilitation of a monosynaptic pathway as a result of "partial" axotomy of its presynaptic elements.

We investigated the long-lasting effects of severing an axonal branch on the function of the synapses made by the remaining branches of the "partially" transected axon. The experimental model used was the monosynaptic reflex pathway of the cat lumbar cord. Preliminary surgical procedures consisted of a dorsal column (DC) hemisection at the L3--L4 level on the left side under aseptic conditions.

Centrifugal dorsal root discharges induced by motoneurone activation.

1. It has been confirmed that antidromic stimulation of motoneurones in the cat lumbar cord can induce, when properly conditioned, a centrifugal discharge in dorsal root afferent fibres.2.

An effect of postsynaptic neurons upon presynaptic terminals.

Centrifugal ("antidromic") discharges in cat sensory fibers are observed consistently in a variety of experimental preparations and with many different surgical and recording techniques. As is well known, they can be either "spontaneous" or induced by afferent volleys in other sensory fibers. In addition, it is shown here that they can be elicited by antidromic motoneuron activation when the latter is conditioned by natural sensory stimuli or by shocks to the dorsal roots.