Spinal Synaptic Delay in Young and Aged Rats

Abstract
Synaptic delays for the monosynaptic flexor hallucis longus reflex were measured in 117-, 276-, 445- and 822-day-old rats. The mean synaptic delays were 0.97, 1.14, 1.23 and 1.36 msec. Afferent conduction velocity was approximately the same in young (66.1 m/sec.) and old (56.9 m/sec.) rats; however ventral root conduction velocity decreased from 64.2 m/sec. in the young animals to 43.7 m/sec. in the aged rats.
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