The expression of a deafferentation syndrome in the Sprague-Dawley rat: effects of frontoparietal cortical lesions

Abstract

Forelimb sensorimotor (SMI) cortical lesions in the rat have been found to suppress a deafferentation syndrome which follows C5-T2 ganglionectomy/avulsion whether the cortical lesions were made prior to, or several days after, the dorsal root lesions. None of the 6 rats with only frontoparietal lesions developed a deafferentation syndrome. These results may be influenced by the presence of a sensorimotor amalgam in the parietal cortex of the rat.