Plasma extravasation in the cat knee-joint induced by antidromic articular nerve stimulation

Antidromic electrical stimulation of C fibres in the cat knee-joint resulted in significant plasma extravasation into the synovial cavity in six out of seven cats. Preliminary findings suggest that this effect is mediated by Substance P. It is concluded that joint C fibre afferents could provide a neurogenic mechanism contributing towards the initiation or maintenance of inflammatory joint disease.