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. 1971 Apr;214(1):29–50. doi: 10.1113/jphysiol.1971.sp009417

Presynaptic depolarization of myelinated afferent fibres evoked by stimulation of cutaneous C fibres

W Jänig, M Zimmermann
PMCID: PMC1331820  PMID: 5575364

Abstract

1. The origin of the dorsal root potential observed following a volley in cutaneous unmyelinated or C fibres (C-DRP) has been investigated by several assays.

2. Measurements of the spatial decrement of the C-DRP along the dorsal roots indicate that mainly the thick myelinated primary afferent fibres contribute to this C-DRP.

3. The spatial configuration of the intraspinal potential field during the course of the C-DRP is similar to that of the field correlated to the A-DRP, i.e. the DRP evoked by a volley in the A fibres of the same cutaneous nerve. It is concluded therefrom that both A- and C-DRPs signal presynaptic depolarizations of afferent fibres in the same regions of the dorsal horn.

4. Intrafibre recordings reveal that C input produces primary afferent depolarization (C-PAD) mainly in cutaneous and articular afferents, but not in muscle Group Ia afferents.

5. These findings and direct measurements of the interactions between A- and C-DRPs indicate that the pathways involved in A- and C-PAD exhibit convergence.

6. C-DRPs were also recorded from contralateral rootlets.

7. Some functional aspects of the PAD produced by an afferent volley in C fibres are discussed.

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Selected References

These references are in PubMed. This may not be the complete list of references from this article.

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