Research article summary (published 21 May 2003):

Impulse propagation over tactile and kinaesthetic sensory axons to central target neurones of the cuneate nucleus in cat.

Full Abstract

Paired, simultaneous recordings were made in anaesthetized cats from the peripheral and central axons of individual tactile and kinaesthetic sensory fibres. The aim was to determine whether failure of spike propagation occurred at any of the three major axonal branch points in the path to their cuneate target neurones, and whether propagation failure may contribute, along with synaptic transmission failures, to limitations in transmission security observed for the cuneate synaptic relay. No evidence for propagation failure was found at the two major axonal branch points prior to the cuneate nucleus, namely, the T-junction at the dorsal root ganglion, and the major branch point near the cord entry point, even for the highest impulse rates (approximately 400 impulses s(-1)) at which these fibres could be driven. However, at the highest impulse rates there was evidence at the central, intra-cuneate recording site of switching between two states in the terminal axonal spike configuration. This appears to reflect a sporadic propagation failure into one of the terminal branches of the sensory axon. In conclusion, it appears that central impulse propagation over group II sensory axons occurs with complete security through branch points within the dorsal root ganglion and at the spinal cord entry zone. However, at high rates of afferent drive, terminal axonal propagation failure may contribute to the observed decline in transmission security within the cuneate synaptic relay.

Author information

Author/s: Coleman, G T (GT); Mahns, D A (DA); Zhang, H Q (HQ); Rowe, M J (MJ);

Affiliation: School of Medical Sciences, University of New South Wales, Sydney 2052, Australia.

Journal and publication information

Publication Type: Journal Article; Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

Journal: The Journal of physiology (J Physiol), published in England. (Language: eng)

Reference: 2003-Jul; vol 550 (issue Pt 2) : pp 553-62

Dates: Created 2003/07/15; Completed 2004/03/08; Revised 2008/11/20;

PMID: 12766249, status: MEDLINE (last retrieval date: 2/18/2009, IMS Date: )

Sourced from the National Library of Medicine. Abstract text and other information may be subject to copyright.

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MeSH headings (categories)

This article was linked to the MESH Headings shown below.

Action Potentials - physiology Animals Axons - physiology Brain Stem - cytology; physiology Cats Central Nervous System - physiology Electric Stimulation Female Forelimb - innervation; physiology

Joints - innervation; physiology Kinesthesis - physiology Male Nerve Fibers - physiology Neurons - physiology Neurons, Afferent - physiology Peripheral Nervous System - physiology Synaptic Transmission - physiology Touch - physiology

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