Intracellular recording from spinal cord motoneurons in the chronic cat

This report describes chronic intracellular techniques for identifying spinal cord motoneurons and recording from them for prolonged periods of time. The preparation is the intact, unanesthetized, undrugged, normally respiring cat. Comparisons are made between data obtained in the chronic state with that reported in the “acute” preparation, and standards are suggested for intracellular recording in the chronic preparation. Various traditionally used tests of neuronal functioning are outlined in the context of determining basic electrophysiological properties of motoneurons as a function of state-dependent influences.