Summary
Spread of the excitation along the spinal cord was studied in white rats in ascending general tetanus. The special feature of this phenomenon is that the excitation becomes generalized completely (in some cases only) on stimulating the limb into whichthe lethal dose of toxin had been injected. The clinical effect takes the form of a convulsive attack with characteristic features of spasticity. High division of the spinal cord had no appreciable effect on the phenomenon.
The same effect was observed on stimulating the central ends of the cut dorsal roots on the side of the toxin injection.
Synchronization of the bursts of excitation occurred in remote groups of motor neurons located in different segements of the cord.
The part played by the various types of internuncial and motor neurons of the spinal cord is discussed. It is suggested that neurons functioning as “dispatching stations” may play a special part.
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Kryzhanovskii, G.N. Central nervous changes in experimental tetanus and the mode of action of the tetanus toxin. Bull Exp Biol Med 48, 1346–1350 (1959). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00788345
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00788345