Professional Documents
Culture Documents
Byers 1984
Byers 1984
SYMPATHETICEFFECTSONC-FIBRERESPONSES
B.C. Shyulyx, K.H. Huang2Tx, B. Rydenhagl, S. Anderssonl, 1 g?f;i /
1. Department of Physiology,Universityof Giiteborg,Hex 33031, . .
S-40033 Gijteborg, Sweden. 2. Academy of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Peking,
China.
Aim of investigation: The aim of this study was to examine the possibilitythat in
normal conditions the sympatheticactivity influences peripheralnerve fibres.
Methods: Rabbitswere anaesthetized by chloralose-urethanand paralyzed.The
peronealand sciaticnerves were placedon pairs of electrodesfor stimulation and
recording of the compound action potentials by electrical stimuli of a strength exci-
ting all C-fibres. The sympathetic chains were stimulated electrically via implan-
ted electrodes.
Results: Sympathetic stimulation did not significantly change the A-fibre response
but gave a prolonged depression of components in the C-fibre response which was
related to activity induced by pinching, stroking and heating appropriate skin areas.
This effect remained unchanged after section of the peroneal nerve peripheral to the
distal electrodes, but disappeared after a central lesion of the sciatic nerve. The
depression was partly due to collision between nerve impulses in sympathetic fibres.
A train of sympathetic stimuli induced a prolonged depression of the C-fibre res-
ponse. The long-lasting depression, but not that due to collision, was abolished by
phentolamine.
Conclusion: The findings suggest that the membrane potential of C-fibres is in-
fluenced by substances released from sympathetic fibres. Hypothetically, the effects
may be similar to presynaptic inhibition. If so, this mechanism may produce hyp-
algesia during strongly increased sympathetic activity such as in a defence-alarm
situation.