NEURAL MECHANISMS OF THE CHLORALOSE JERK WITH SPECIAL REFERENCE TO ITS RELATIONSHIP WITH THE SPINO-BULBO-SPINAL REFLEX

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Abstract
Experiments were performed on 26 adult cats under chloralose anesthesia, in order to investigate whether a relationship exists between the neural mechanisms of the chloralose jerky reaction and the spino-bulbo-spinal (SBS) reflex. A single tactile stimulation to the skin over the body yielded early and late responses from the spinal motor nerves and muscles. The early one, which was apparently due to the segmental spinal mechanisms, was not concerned in the chloralose jerky muscular reaction. The late response may be related to the chloralose jerky muscular reaction. Characteristics of the late response may be summarized as follows on weak stimulation, the late response was recorded mainly from flexor motor nerves; the late response was obtained from the spinal ventral roots at different levels along the spinal cord. Its latency became steadily shorter as segments closer to the brainstem were recorded. The conduction velocity of the descending pathway in the late response was about 30 m/sec. After spinal tran-sectlon, the late response was completely abolished. Pentobarbital sodium anesthesia affected the late response at dosage levels of about 3 mgAg. These observations were almost the same as those of the SBS reflex. Some part of the neural mechanisms of the chloralose jerky muscular reaction may be the same as those of the SBS reflex.

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