Increase of extensor tonus of forelimbs in chronic cats with bilateral serial hemisections of the spinal cord at different levels.
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.
D000818:Animals; D002415:Cats; D004576:Electromyography; D005260:Female; D005552:Forelimb; D007796:Laminectomy; D009129:Muscle Tonus; D013116:Spinal Cord / Q000502:physiology*