Effects of Hindlimb Cutaneous Afferent Inputs on Spinal Reflex Recording from Tail Muscle Motoneurons in the Spinalized Cat.

In 4 spinalized cats, the effects of afferent inputs from hindlimb cutaneous nerves (sural cutaneous nerve: Sur) on mono- and poly-synaptic reflex recorded from tail muscle motoneurons were studied before and after spinal lesioning at S2-3 level. Monosynaptic reflex was enhanced by ipsilateral Sur stimulation at short conditioning-test stimulus interval and this effect was not observed after spinal lesion of ipsilateral side of spinal cord. Polysynaptic reflex was inhibited by stimulation of Sur in both sides and this inhibitory effect was depressed by contralateral spinal lesioning.