Recording of spinal reflexes evoked by dorsal root stimulation in unanesthetized free moving cats

Summary A simple technique is presented which allows electrical stimulation of dorsal roots in awake cats via electrodes fixed extradurally in vertebral arches. Spinal reflexes are recorded with bipolar electrodes from several muscles.Similar to results obtained in experiments in anesthetized cats, conditioning stimulation of the contralateral red nucleus enlarged reflexes mainly to flexor muscles. In accordance with the literature, arousal reactions were generally accompained by an increase in both flexor and extensor reflex amplitudes.Supported by the Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft (Br 242/3).