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Differential peripheral nerve blockade by procaine and local cold
Author(s) -
Herman Richard M.,
Byck Robert
Publication year - 1964
Publication title -
clinical pharmacology and therapeutics
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.941
H-Index - 188
eISSN - 1532-6535
pISSN - 0009-9236
DOI - 10.1002/cpt196456part2848
Subject(s) - blockade , efferent , procaine , sciatic nerve , compound muscle action potential , peripheral , anesthesia , soleus muscle , saphenous nerve , medicine , anatomy , chemistry , afferent , electrophysiology , skeletal muscle , receptor
The muscle spindle with its gamma efferent innervation plays a major role in the regulation of muscle tone. In the decerebrate cat, dilute procaine applications to the nerve of the soleus selectively suppress the gamma fibers with little change in alpha fiber conduction, and with high concentrations of pracaine gamma blockade accurs before alpha inhibition. Similar results have been noted in man. Since selective control of the gamma efferents is difficult to maintain for any length of time, experimental pracedures are, therefare, limited to acute abservations. With the use of a cooling procedure on the saphenous and sciatic nerves isalated in situ, differential blockade was demanstrated for sustained periads af time. The results shawed that local cold completely suppressed the delta wave action potential in the saphenous nerve at 8.6° C. while the amplitude of the alpha potential was reduced to only 75 per cent. The effects af long‐term expasure to local cold remain to be studied if the method is to have therapeutic significance.