POST-TETANIC POTENTIATION OF RESPONSE IN MONOSYNAPTIC REFLEX PATHWAYS OF THE SPINAL CORD

Author:

Lloyd David P. C.1

Affiliation:

1. From the Laboratories of The Rockefeller Institute for Medical Research

Abstract

Following tetanic afferent stimulation of a monosynaptic reflex pathway, the transmission through that pathway of isolated reflex volleys is enhanced for some minutes. Post-tetanic potentiation is comparable in the monosynaptic reflex arcs of flexor and extensor muscles. The facilitator and inhibitor actions of monosynaptic reflex afferent fibers, as well as the transmitter action, are potentiated following tetanization. Little post-tetanic change attends reflex transmission through plurisynaptic reflex arcs. Various tests for excitability change made independently of the tetanized afferent fibers reveal none or a slight depression. Hence the potentiating influence of a tetanus is limited to subsequent action on the part of the recently tetanized fibers themselves. Increase in the size of the individual impulses comprising an afferent volley such as might occur during positive after-potential, would accommodate the requirement for a limited process and provide for increased synaptic action. The proposed association between post-tetanic potentiation and positive after-potential (i.e. hyperpolarization) is supported by the following lines of evidence:— 1. Changes in intensity and duration of potentiation with change in frequency and duration of tetanic stimulation are characteristic of, and parallel to, the changes of positive after-potential in similar circumstances. 2. Afferent impulses are increased following a tetanus, and in a fashion that parallels the course of monosynaptic reflex potentiation. Post-tetanic potentiation, as here described, and after-discharge, whatever may be its mechanism, are unrelated phenomena.

Publisher

Rockefeller University Press

Subject

Physiology

Cited by 390 articles. 订阅此论文施引文献 订阅此论文施引文献,注册后可以免费订阅5篇论文的施引文献,订阅后可以查看论文全部施引文献

同舟云学术

1.学者识别学者识别

2.学术分析学术分析

3.人才评估人才评估

"同舟云学术"是以全球学者为主线,采集、加工和组织学术论文而形成的新型学术文献查询和分析系统,可以对全球学者进行文献检索和人才价值评估。用户可以通过关注某些学科领域的顶尖人物而持续追踪该领域的学科进展和研究前沿。经过近期的数据扩容,当前同舟云学术共收录了国内外主流学术期刊6万余种,收集的期刊论文及会议论文总量共计约1.5亿篇,并以每天添加12000余篇中外论文的速度递增。我们也可以为用户提供个性化、定制化的学者数据。欢迎来电咨询!咨询电话:010-8811{复制后删除}0370

www.globalauthorid.com

TOP

Copyright © 2019-2024 北京同舟云网络信息技术有限公司
京公网安备11010802033243号  京ICP备18003416号-3