J Korean Neurosurg Soc.  1981 Mar;10(1):71-78.

Changes in the Activity of Single Vagal Efferent Fiber During Somatic Stimulation

• Lee HK
• Chu JW

Abstract

A study has been made of efferent single fibers in the cat whose axon is projected to the cardiac branches of the right vagus. The main objective of this experiment was to replicate some of the mechanisms involving vagal efferent discharges and to observe the effect of somatic stimulation, pain and coldness, on the discharges. Electrical activities of a single of a single fiber were recorded on the central segments of small cut strands separated from the right cervical vagus under the pentobarbital sodium anesthesia. The fiber was considered to be cardio-inhibitory in function because of the activity in inverse effect on the heart rate in almost all conditions. Pain and cold stimulation of skin reflexly excited these fibers, as did stimulation of baroreceptor in the carotid sinus. Response to the somatic stimulation applied on the skin, by the increase of impulse frequency, amplitude, discharge duration and pulse rate of electrical discharges were observed. The auther observed that efferent fibers in the cutaneous nerve excited the cardiac efferent vagal fibers in response to reflex stimulation.

MeSH Terms

Anesthesia
Animals
Axons
Carotid Sinus
Cats
Heart Rate
Nerve Fibers, Myelinated
Pentobarbital
Pressoreceptors
Reflex
Skin
Pentobarbital