RESPIRATORY EFFECTS CONTRIBUTING TO THE CORDOTOMIZED DECEREBRATE (SCHIFF-SHERRINGTON) PHENOMENON

Abstract

Fifteen cats and five dogs were decerebrated at the midcollicular level and then cordotomized at the twelfth thoracic level. We observed an abrupt augmentation of respiration as a previously undefined effect within the Schiff-Sherrington phenomenon in decerebrate cats immediately upon the transection of the spinal cord, averaging a 56% increases in minute volume (P<0.005). The results are interpreted as pointing to the presence of a neuromechanism linking the increased ventilation with enhanced somatic neuromuscular effects and/or by the release of postural inhibitory reflexes in the Schiff-Sherrington phenomenon as accompanied by the release of respiratory activity, or some combination of systems.