the rostro-caudal distribution of the muscle afferents from lower the limb in the rat spinal cord

introduction: electrophysiologycal histological methods were for studing the anatomical distribution of group i and ii muscle afferent in the lumbosacral segments of wistar rat spinal cord. material and methods: quadriceps, deep proneal, hamestring, gastrocnemius-soleus, tibialis posterior, plantaris, flexor digitorum longus and popliteus muscle nerves were dissected and mounted on surface electodes. using graded stimuli, the afferent volley and cord dorsum potentials (cdps) were recorded throughout the lumbosacral segments of spinal cord. results: several sets of electrophysiological and histological evidences from this study indicate that in the rat spinal cord, anatomical organization of group i and ii muscle afferents from lower limb is similar in principal to that of the cat. accordingly, it is highly likely that cat results could be extended to the rat. conclusion: these observations raise the possibility that this aspect of spinal cord organization may be a fundamental feature of the mammalian spinal cord. this information will be of particular value for experiments involving motor control, gait and balance in mammalian.