L-dopa-induced locomotor-like activity in ankle flexor and extensor nerves of chronic and acute spinal cats

The ability of L-DOPA and nialamide to produce locomotor-like rhythmic discharges (fictive locomotion) in hind limb nerves of acute and chronically spinalized and paralyzed cats was examined. Ankle flexor and extensor nerves of chronic cats exhibited pharmacologically induced alternate bursts of activity that had significantly shorter cycle times and burst durations than those produced in ankle flexor and extensor nerves of acutely prepared cats. Furthermore, prior to pharmacologic activation, both ankle flexor and extensor nerves of chronic preparations frequently exhibited spontaneous alternate bursts of activity. Neuronal discharges from nerves of chronic preparations, both prior to and after pharmacologic activation, exhibited much greater variability in both cycle time and burst duration compared with those observed in acute preparations.