LAMINA IV-VI NEURONS OF THE 2ND SACRAL SEGMENT PROJECTING TO THE 6TH CERVICAL SEGMENT OF THE CATS SPINAL-CORD

Cervical projections of neurones located in the second sacral segment of the spinal cord were electrophysiologically investigated in 12 adul t cats under alpha-chloralose anaesthesia. Extracellular or intracellu lar antidromic potentials from 41 neurones following stimulation of th eir axons in the spinal grey matter in the C6 segment brought evidence of sacro cervical connections. Cell bodies of the investigated neuron es were found mainly in the medial part of laminae IV, V and VI. Axons of these neurones ran in lateral funiculi, mostly in their dorsal par ts (dlf). Most of the axons (26) ascended bilaterally. Fibres of 15 ce lls ran unilaterally - on the ipsilateral (13) or the contralateral si de (2). Conduction velocites of axons measured between S2 and C6 segme nts were in the range from 38.4 to 69.1 m/s. It is suggested that thes e neurones may play an important role in movement coordination between hindlimbs and forelimbs.