Blockade of the reticulospinal inhibitory pathway by nitrous oxide and tetrodotoxin

Article date: September 1972

By: G. B. FRANK, M. OHTA in Volume 46, Issue 1, pages 23-31

. The effects of nitrous oxide and tetrodotoxin were investigated on the reticulospinal inhibitory pathway in the acutely decerebrated cat.

. Both agents abolished the reticular inhibition of the segmental reflex potentials before they blocked either the segmental reflex potentials or the reticular facilitation of the reflex potentials.

. These results confirmed the hypothesis that preferential block of the reticulospinal inhibitory pathway might be an important neural mechanism of the excitement stage of anaesthesia.

. The effects of nitrous oxide and tetrodotoxin were investigated on the reticulospinal inhibitory pathway in the acutely decerebrated cat.

. Both agents abolished the reticular inhibition of the segmental reflex potentials before they blocked either the segmental reflex potentials or the reticular facilitation of the reflex potentials.

. These results confirmed the hypothesis that preferential block of the reticulospinal inhibitory pathway might be an important neural mechanism of the excitement stage of anaesthesia.

DOI: 10.1111/j.1476-5381.1972.tb06845.x

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