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Journal of Experimental Biology 41,359-362 (1964)
Published by Company of Biologists 1964

Locomotory Movements of the Hind Limbs in Rabbits After Isolation of the Lumbosacral Cord

J. TEN CATE ¹

¹ Physiological Laboratory, University of Amsterdam

1. In the lumbosacral cord of rabbits there are nervous mechanisms for bilateral synchronous jumping as well as for the alternate walking movements of the hind limbs.

2. The alternate walking movements of the hind limbs in spinal rabbit can be elicited by contact of the toes of the hind limbs with the ground.

3. The bilateral synchronous movement in spinal rabbits can only take place when the posture of the body and specially of the hind limbs is normal, and the soles of the feet make good contact with the ground.

4. The normal posture of the body and of the hind limbs is ensured by supraspinal centres of the brain-stem.

5. After transection of the cord the influence of the supraspinal centres of the lumbosacral cord is eliminated, so that the normal position of the hind limbs is abolished.

6. The loss of the normal position is the principal cause of the disappearance of the bilateral synchronous movements of the hind limbs in spinal rabbits.