Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

Reflex mechanisms of fore-hindlimb relations demonstrable in lumbar flexor centers of the cat spinal cord

  • Published:
Neurophysiology Aims and scope

Abstract

The dynamics of interaction between segmental, propriospinal, and spino-bulbo-spinal components of reflex responses of lumbar flexor centers was investigated during activation of forelimb and hindlimb afferents in cats. The monosynaptic flexor reflex to activation of hindlimb afferents is facilitated up to 300% when it coincides in time with the reflex discharge evoked by activation of forelimb afferents, and it remains increased up to 120–140% for 40–50 msec during the aftereffect of such activation. Polysynaptic flexor reflexes of segmental, propriospinal, and spino-bulbo-spinal origin have both facilitatory and inhibitory effects on each other. Facilitation is observed only while the interacting responses coincide in time, inhibition when they do not coincide. Three type of inhibitory effects with durations of 7–15, 40–150, and 300–500 msec are observed. The possible neuronal mechanisms of interaction between these reflexes and their role in functional relations between the fore- and hindlimbs are discussed.

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

Access this article

Log in via an institution

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

Literature cited

  1. V. D. Avelev and L. S. Evstigneeva, "Neuronal mechanisms of fore-hindlimb reflex interaction," Abstracts of Proceedings of a Symposium on the Brain and Movement [in Russian], Erevan (1973), pp. 5–6.

  2. N. A. Adamovich, V. D. Avelev, and P. A. Kiselev, "Interaction between segmental and descending intersegmental reflexes in lumbar motoneurons," Neirofiziologiya,4, 168 (1972).

    Google Scholar 

  3. N. A. Adamovich and A. N. Borgest, "Interaction between segmental and intersegmental spinal reflexes," Fiziol. Zh. SSSR, 54, 787 (1968).

    Google Scholar 

  4. N. A. Adamovich, A. N. Borgest, S. A. Evdokimov, and P. A. Kiselev, "Effect of forelimb afferents on motoneuron activity in the lumbar spinal cord," Neirofiziologiya,3, 58 (1971).

    Google Scholar 

  5. P. Duda, A. P. Gokin, and Yu. Pavlasek, "Spinal and spino-bulbo-spinal neuronal mechanisms of transmission of somatomotor and visceromotor effects in the thoracic spinal cord," Neirofiziologiya,5, 392 (1973).

    Google Scholar 

  6. V. C. Abrahams, "Cervico-lumbar reflex interaction involving a proprioceptive receiving area of the cerebral cortex," J. Physiol. (London),209, 45 (1970).

    Google Scholar 

  7. V. C. Abrahams, "Spino-spinal mechanism in the chloralose anesthetized cat," J. Physiol. (London),215, 755 (1971).

    Google Scholar 

  8. E. C. Alvord, Jr., and M. G. F. Fuortes, "A comparison of generalized reflex myoclonic reactions elicitable in cats under chloralose anesthesia and under strychnine," Amer. J. Physiol.,176, 253 (1954).

    Google Scholar 

  9. B. E. Gernandt and S. Gilman, "Vestibular and propriospinal interactions and protracted spinal inhibition by brain stem activation," J. Neurophysiol.,23, 269 (1960).

    Google Scholar 

  10. B. E. Gernandt and S. Gilman, "Differential supraspinal control and spinal centers," Exp. Neurol.,3, 307 (1967).

    Google Scholar 

  11. B. E. Gernandt and D. Megirian, "Ascending propriospinal mechanisms," J. Neurophysiol.,24, 364 (1961).

    Google Scholar 

  12. B. E. Gernandt and M. Shimamura, "Mechanisms of interlimb reflexes in cat," J. Neurophysiol.,24, 665 (1961).

    Google Scholar 

  13. D. P. C. Lloyd, "Mediation of descending long spinal reflex activity," J. Neurophysiol.,5, 435 (1942).

    Google Scholar 

  14. D. P. C. Lloyd and A. K. McIntyre, "Analysis of forelimb-hindlimb reflex activity in acutely decapitate cat," J. Neurophysiol.,11, 455 (1948).

    Google Scholar 

  15. J. W. Pepez, "Reticulo-spinal tracts in the cat," J. Comp. Neurol.,41, 365 (1926).

    Google Scholar 

  16. M. Shimamura and M. Aoki, "Effects of spino-bulbo-spinal reflex volleys in flexor motoneurons of hindlimb in the cat," Brain Res.,18, 333 (1969).

    Google Scholar 

  17. M. Shimamura and R. B. Livingston, "Longitudinal conduction systems serving spinal and brain stem coordination," J. Neurophysiol.,26, 258 (1963).

    Google Scholar 

Download references

Authors
  1. V. D. Avelev
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Additional information

I. P. Pavlov Institute of Physiology, Academy of Sciences of the USSR, Leningrad. Translated from Neirofiziologiya, Vol. 7, No. 3, pp. 257–264, May–June, 1975.

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Avelev, V.D. Reflex mechanisms of fore-hindlimb relations demonstrable in lumbar flexor centers of the cat spinal cord. Neurophysiology 7, 200–205 (1975). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF01063304

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF01063304

Keywords

Search

Navigation