Sustained activation of the triceps surae muscles produced by mechanical stimulation of the genital tract of the female cat

• Published in: Brain research Vol. 600; no. 1; pp. 33 - 38
• Main Authors: Cueva-Rolón, R., Mún˜oz-Martínez, E.J., Delgado-Lezama, R., Raya, J.G., González-Santos, G.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: London Elsevier B.V 08.01.1993; Amsterdam Elsevier; New York, NY
• Subjects: Animals; Biological and medical sciences; Bistability; Cats; Cervix Uteri - innervation; Cervix Uteri - physiology; Copulation - physiology; Decerebrate State; Electromyography - instrumentation; Electromyography - methods; Evoked Potentials; Female; Fundamental and applied biological sciences. Psychology; Motor control and motor pathways. Reflexes. Control centers of vegetative functions. Vestibular system and equilibration; Muscle, Smooth - innervation; Muscle, Smooth - physiology; Muscles - physiology; Physical Stimulation; Sexual behavior; Skin - innervation; Skin Physiological Phenomena; Vagina - innervation; Vagina - physiology; Vaginal stimulation; Vertebrates: nervous system and sense organs; Vulva - innervation; Vulva - physiology; Vaginal stimulation; Sexual behavior; Bistability; Fissipedia; Carnivora; Vertebrata; Mammalia; Triceps surae muscle; Cat; Electrophysiology; Vagina; Electromyography; Mechanical stimulus
• ISSN: 0006-8993; 1872-6240
• DOI: 10.1016/0006-8993(93)90398-7

In decerebrate cats, controlled mechanical stimulation of the perivulvar skin, the vaginal wall or the cervix uteri induiced visible hind limb extension. Pressing on the cervix uteri produced the greater response. To quantify these responses, the EMG activity and the tension developed by the normally inserted triceps surae muscles were recorded. The activity induced in these muscles by stimulation of the genital canal outlasted the stimulus by many seconds or a few minutes. These effects disappeared after spinalization at the T12 level. We propose that stimulation of the vaginal canal in the female cat may induce bistability of triceps surae motoneurones.