title: Increase of extensor tonus of forelimbs in chronic cats with bilateral serial hemisections of the spinal cord at different levels.
abstract: An increase of extensor tonus of the forelimbs was observed in chronic cats with serial double hemisections of the spinal cord, first at a lower thoracic level followed by a contralateral hemisection at the midthoracic cord at intervals of 5-18 weeks. A similar increase in forelimb extensor tonus was observed in chronic cats with serial double hemisections, first at the high cervical cord followed by a contralateral hemisection of the mid-thoracic cord at intervals of 3-7 weeks. The results suggest that the augmentation of extensor tonus was brought about by release of bulbar centers from ascending inhibitory mechanisms from the lower spinal cord.
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D002415:Cats; D004576:Electromyography; D005260:Female; D005552:Forelimb; D007796:Laminectomy; D009129:Muscle Tonus; D013116:Spinal Cord / Q000502:physiology*