Abstract
THE spinal interneurones known as Renshaw cells have as their function the regulation of motoneurone activity: they appear to terminate on motoneurones directly inhibiting their firing1, and to inhibit other inhibitory interneurones, thereby disinhibiting motoneurones and enhancing their discharge2. Because of this widespread involvement of Renshaw cells in the control of motor activity, the regulation of the firing of Renshaw cells themselves is of considerable interest. Since the discovery of these interneurones by Renshaw3 and their subsequent detailed examination by Eccles, Fatt and Koketsu1 and Others, attention has centred on their excitation. However, it has been observed that Renshaw cells can be inhibited as well as excited by supraspinal stimuli4, and an observation of Renshaw's3 suggests that they can also be inhibited by antidromic stimulation of motor nerves. In view of the importance of Renshaw cells as the only clearly identified inhibitory interneurones in the spinal cord, we have investigated the influence of various types of stimuli on their discharge, and find that widespread inhibitory action contributes to the regulation of their activity.
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References
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WILSON, V., TALBOT, W. Integration at an Inhibitory Interneurone: Inhibition of Renshaw Cells. Nature 200, 1325–1327 (1963). https://doi.org/10.1038/2001325b0
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/2001325b0
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