The Specificity of Afferent Cutaneous C Fibres in Mammals

By dissecting very fine strands of cutaneous nerves in rats, dogs and cats it has been possible to record spikes from single afferent C fibres when applying different stimuli to the skin. Confirming earlier investigators, records have been obtained of the activity of C fibres which responded specifi...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Acta physiologica Scandinavica 1960-04, Vol.49 (2-3), p.267-278
Main Authors: Iriuchijima, J., Zotterman, Y.
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Administration, Cutaneous
Animals
Humans
Mammals
Nerve Endings - physiology
Nerve Fibers, Unmyelinated
Old Medline
Skin - innervation
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Summary:By dissecting very fine strands of cutaneous nerves in rats, dogs and cats it has been possible to record spikes from single afferent C fibres when applying different stimuli to the skin. Confirming earlier investigators, records have been obtained of the activity of C fibres which responded specifically to tactile stimulation of the skin and from C fibres which responded rather unspecifically to strong thermal changes in the skin in both directions (± 10dg C) as well as to mechanical stimulation of the skin. In addition to these fibres a new type of C fibres were found which responded specifically to warming or to cooling the skin to less than 1dg C. These specific “warm” C fibres and specific “cold” C fibres showed in general a behaviour similar to that of δ thermal fibres previously described. They did not respond to touching their receptive field. The skin of the mammals investigated thus possess specific “warm” C fibres as well as specific “cold” C fibres which are reciprocally brought in and out of action when the skin is subjected to even slight temperature changes.
ISSN:0001-6772
1365-201X
DOI:10.1111/j.1748-1716.1960.tb01952.x