Skip to main content
Log in

Ganglionic transmission of somatically induced sympathetic reflexes

  • Published:
Pflügers Archiv Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Summary

  1. 1.

    The characteristics of the mass reflex responses recorded from the postganglionic branch (N. caroticus internus) of the superior cervical ganglion following afferent nerve stimulation were studied in cats anaesthetized with chloralose.

  2. 2.

    The postganglionic reflex produced by a single volley in low threshold cutaneous or high threshold muscle afferents consisted of two initial and two more irregular, later and smaller components. All reflex components showed considerable variations both in latency and amplitude.

  3. 3.

    The reflex discharges were followed by a post-excitatory depression both of the spontaneous discharges of the postganglionic fibres (silent period) and of the effects of a consecutive afferent volley. The depression was complete from about 45 to about 150 ms after the afferent volley entered the spinal cord. Full recovery took more than 1,200 ms.

  4. 4.

    Brief tetanic stimuli (1 to 10 pulses, 100 to 300 Hz, max. train duration 45 ms) enhanced all reflex components. The excitatory effects of afferent volleys entering the spinal cord more than 45 ms after the first one were suppressed by the post-excitatory depression initiated by their predecessors.

  5. 5.

    A comparison of these results with those obtained when recording from the preganglionic trunk and with those obtained in previous work studying impulse transmission in the superior cervical ganglion revealed that this ganglion transmits the preganglionic reflex discharges in a remarkably faithful manner.

  6. 6.

    It is concluded that the characteristics of somatically induced post-ganglionic reflex discharges depend largeley on the properties of the spinal and supraspinal sympathetic reflex centers, the sympathetic ganglia acting solely as relay in the efferent pathway.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  • Bishop, G. H., Heinbecker, P.: A functional analysis of the cervical sympathetic nerve supply to the eye. Amer. J. Physiol.100, 519–532 (1932).

    Google Scholar 

  • Eccles, J. C.: The action potential of the superior cervical ganglion. J. Physiol. (Lond.)85, 179–206 (1935).

    Google Scholar 

  • Jänig, W., Schmidt, R. F.: Single unit responses in the cervical sympathetic trunk upon somatic nerve stimulation. Pflügers Arch.314, 199–216 (1970).

    Google Scholar 

  • Kirchner, F., Sato, A., Weidinger, H.: Centra pathways of reflex discharge in the cervical sympathetic trunk. Pflügers Arch.319, 1–11 (1970).

    Google Scholar 

  • Langley, J. N.: The sympathetic and other related system of nerves. Text book of physiology, Vol 2, pp. 616–694, edit by E. A. Schäfer. Edinburgh-London: Young J. Pentland 1900a.

    Google Scholar 

  • —: On axon-reflex in the pre-ganglionic fibres of the sympathetic system. J. Physiol. (Lond.)25, 354–398 (1900b.

    Google Scholar 

  • —: On the question of commissural fibres between nerve cells having the same function and situated in the same sympathetic ganglion, and in the function of post-ganglionic nerve plexuses. J. Physiol. (Lond.)31, 244–259 (1904).

    Google Scholar 

  • Libet, B.: Generation of slow inhibitory and excitatory postsynaptic potentials. Fed. Proc.29, 1945–1956 (1970).

    Google Scholar 

  • Nishi, S.: Cholinergic and adrenergic receptors at sympathetic preganglionic nerve terminals. Fed. Proc.29, 1957–1965 (1970).

    Google Scholar 

  • Rosenblueth, A., Simeone, F. A.: The responses of the superior cervical ganglion to single repetitive activation. Amer. J. Physiol.122, 688–707 (1938).

    Google Scholar 

  • Sato, A., Kaufmann, A., Koizumi, K., Brooks, C. McC.: Afferent nerve groups and sympathetic reflex pathways. Brain Res.14, 575–587 (1969).

    Google Scholar 

  • —, Schmidt, R. F.: Muscle and cutaneous afferents evoking sympathetic reflexes. Brain Res.2, 399–401 (1966).

    Google Scholar 

  • ——: Postganglionic sympathetic reflexes upon somatic nerve stimulation. Pflügers Arch.312, R136 (1969).

    Google Scholar 

  • ——: Spinal and supraspinal components of reflex discharges into lumbar and thoracic white rami. J. Physiol. (Lond.)212, 839–850 (1971).

    Google Scholar 

  • Schmidt, R. F., Schönfuß, K.: An analysis of the reflex activity in the cervical sympathetic trunk induced by myelinated somatic afferent. Pflügers Arch.314, 175–198 (1970).

    Google Scholar 

  • — Weller, E.: Reflex activity in the cervical and lumbar sympathetic trunk induced by unmyelinated somatic afferents. Brain Res.24, 207–218 (1970). Ergebn. Physiol.59, 1–87 (1967).

    Google Scholar 

  • Volle, R. L., Hancock, J. C.: Transmission in sympathetic ganglia. Fed. Proc.29, 1913–1918 (1970).

    Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

Authors

Additional information

This work was supported by the Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft.

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Sato, A., Schmidt, R.F. Ganglionic transmission of somatically induced sympathetic reflexes. Pflugers Arch. 326, 240–253 (1971). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00592505

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00592505

Key-Words

Schlüsselwörter

Navigation