[Possibility of using an analgesic (fentanyl) for electrophysiologic studies of the cerebellar cortex]

The effect of the central analgetic, fentanyl, on evoked potentials and Purkinje cells discharges in the cerbellar cortex to stimulation either the cerebral cortex or somatic nerves were studied in nonanaesthetized cats. It was found that the analgetic dose fentanyl (10-30 microgram/kg) did not affect the evoked potentials. The fentanyl dose of 30 microgram/kg suppressed the resting discharges and responses of Purkinje cells while the dose of 10 microgram/kg facilitated them. However these effects were substantially weaker as compared with those of nembutal. Therefore fentanyl can be used for analgesia during electrophysiological study of the cerebellar cortex in nonanaesthetized cats.