Sustained activation of the triceps surae muscles produced by mechanical stimulation of the genital tract of the female cat.
In decerebrate cats, controlled mechanical stimulation of the perivulvar skin, the vaginal wall or the cervix uteri induced visible hind limb extension. Pressing on the cervix uteri produced the greater response. To quantify these responses, the EMG activity and the tension developed by the normally inserted triceps surae muscles were recorded. The activity induced in these muscles by stimulation of the genital canal outlasted the stimulus by many seconds or a few minutes. These effects disappeared after spinalization at the T12 level. We propose that stimulation of the vaginal canal in the female cat may induce bistability of triceps surae motoneurones.
Cueva-Rolón
R
R
Departamento de Fisiología, Centro de Investigación y de Estudios Avanzados del IPN, México DF, Mexico.
Múñoz-Martínez
E J
EJ
Delgado-Lezama
R
R
Raya
J G
JG
González-Santos
G
G
D000818:Animals; D002415:Cats; D002584:Cervix Uteri / Q000294:innervation / Q000502:physiology*; D003307:Copulation / Q000502:physiology; D003655:Decerebrate State; D004576:Electromyography / Q000295:instrumentation / Q000379:methods; D005071:Evoked Potentials; D005260:Female; D009130:Muscle, Smooth / Q000294:innervation / Q000502:physiology; D009132:Muscles / Q000502:physiology*; D010812:Physical Stimulation; D012867:Skin / Q000294:innervation; D012879:Skin Physiological Phenomena; D014621:Vagina / Q000294:innervation / Q000502:physiology*; D014844:Vulva / Q000294:innervation / Q000502:physiology*