THE EFFERENT PATHWAY FOR REFLEX PUPILLO-MOTOR ACTIVITY

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Abstract
Completely sympathectomized cats exhibit a normal light reflex. Physiological stimuli evoke pupillary dilatation which is indistinguishable from that of the normal animal. Unilateral excision of the ciliary ganglion, or acute or chronic destruction of the oculomotor nerve abolishes the light reflex. These operations remove the ability of the pupil to dilate to emotional, painful, or afferent nerve stimulation. Anoxia or asphyxia may cause dilatation on the parasympathectomized side, but this effect is considered due to other than sympathetic nervous mechanisms. No differences were established between a normal and sympathectomized eye by the use of a variety of frequencies and intensities of electrical stimulation of the sciatic nerve, or by asphyxiation of different degrees of severity. In the cat, under the conditions investigated, no significant part in pupillary dilatation of reflex origin is played by the sympathetic nervous mechanisms.

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