Inhibition des activités spinales à caractère locomoteur par une modalité particulière de stimulation somatique chez le lapin

Summary In decerebrate rabbit preparations, a gentle pressure exerted on the dorsal skin area can completely suppress the rhythmic, locomotor-like movements or the corresponding nerve discharges which easily develop in such preparations. This inhibition can also be obtained on spinal preparation (and thus does not depend upon supraspinal levels); its maximal effect (i.e. minimal pressure threshold) is located at the lumbar level. It involves tonic receptors belonging both to the skin and to muscle and/or joints. This phenomenon probably plays a role in the so-called hypnotic akinesia which, as is well known, can easily be elicited in rabbits put in dorsal decubitus.

Notes de Remerciements. Travail réalisé avec l'aide d'une subvention du C.N.R.S. (ERA 411), de l'I.N.S.E.R.M. (Contrat 71 11 64) et de la Fondation pour la Recherche médicale française.