[Intercentral relations in rat spinal cord with local depression of the inhibitory processes]

The changes in certain reflex responses of the rat spinal cord after local depression of inhibitory processes by tetanus toxin (the so-called phenomenon of "determinative dispatch station") were studied. It is shown that the tonic and rhythmic activity generated by this locus in the lumbar part of the spinal cord evokes generalized activity of all spinal motoneurons with similar time characteristics. The depression of its neurons by glycine removes this phenomenon. The excitation of "determinative dispatch station" neurons in cervical segments causes a pathologically enhanced scratch reflex in the ipsilateral hind limb. The enhancing of the scratch reflex is not connected with the depression of inhibitory processes of lumbar motoneurons. The formation of the "determinative dispatch station" in cervical segments produces both excitatory and inhibitory influences on monosynaptic reflexes of the lumbar flexor motoneurons. The role of local inhibitory processes depression in the functioning of the nervous system is discussed.