Summary
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1.
After injection of tetanus toxin into the gastrocnemius muscle of the cat non-synaptic excitability of motoneurones was studied in early local tetanus. Antidromic stimulation of motoneurones was performed on the toxin-treated side and on the control side of the same cat.
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2.
The mean resting membrane potential of the motoneurones on the toxin-treated side did not differ from that on the control side.
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3.
Similarly, no differences were found as to the amplitude of the action potential and its rate of rise as well as to the size and time course of the after-hyperpolarization.
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4.
The mean input resistance of the motoneurones of the toxintreated side did not differ from that of the motoneurones of the control side.
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5.
Tetanus toxin did not change the mean refractory period and latency of antidromic responses.
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6.
It is concluded that the action of tetanus toxin in the spinal cord cannot be explained by an action of the toxin on the electrically excitable membrane elements of the motoneurones.
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Wiegand, H., Wellhöner, H. Electrical excitability of motoneurones in early local tetanus. Naunyn-Schmiedeberg's Arch. Pharmacol. 308, 71–76 (1979). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00499722
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00499722