Recurrent and Reflex Discharges in Plantar Muscles of the Cat

Abstract

Abstract Gassel, M. M. and M. Wiesendanger. Recurrent and refleex discharges in plantar muscles of the cat . Acta physiol. scand. 1965. 65 . 138–142. — The response subsequent to the maximal direct response in plantar muscles of the cat elicited by electrical stimulation of the tibial nerve at the ankle had an early, triphasic, and a late, polyphasic, component. Deafferentation of the hind leg showed that the early component was an antidromically induced recurrent discharge and the late component a polysynaptic reflex. A monosynaptic reflex could however add to or even replace the recurrent discharge at the same latency as the recurrent discharge when the strength of stimulation was reduced or following repetitive stimulation. As to the secondary response in the intrinsic hand and foot muscles in man (F‐wave) it is unsettled whether the first deflection originates from a recurrent discharge or is a combination of a recurrent discharge and a monosynaptic reflex. This makes the F‐wave unsuitable for the measurement of sensory conduction velocity.