[Changes in antidromal discharges in the peripheral nerves in the cat in response to polarization of the spinal cord by a steady current]

Abstract

The influence of constant current passing through the spinal cord cross-section on the antidromic discharges in afferent nerves caused by intraspinal stimulation of central afferent terminals was studied in experiments on anasthetized cats. The current flowing through the spinal cord in the dorso-ventral direction produced an increase or antidromic discharges. The current flowing in the ventro-dorsal direction produced an opposite effect. Facilitation of antidromic discharges evoked by conditioning stimuli decreased with an increase of constant current of both directions. It is suggested that depolarizing shift of the membrane potentials of afferent terminals occurs when the current flows in the dorso-ventral direction. the situation reverses when the direction of current flow becomes opposite.