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The Effect of Diazepam on Presynaptic Inhibition in Patients with Complete and Incomplete Spinal Cord Lesions

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  18 September 2015

M. Verrier ,
S. MacLeod  and
P. Ashby
M. Verrier*
Affiliation:
Neurophysiology Unit, Toronto Western Hospital, Toronto, Canada
S. MacLeod
Affiliation:
Neurophysiology Unit, Toronto Western Hospital, Toronto, Canada
P. Ashby
Affiliation:
Neurophysiology Unit, Toronto Western Hospital, Toronto, Canada
*
Department of Rehabilitation Medicine, Toronto Western Hospital, 399 Bathurst St., Toronto, Ontario, Canada M5T 2S8
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The effect of diazepam on presynaptic inhibition in man has been examined in 5 patients with complete spinal transections and 7 patients with incomplete lesions. The inhibition of the H reflex by vibration applied to the tendo Achilles was used to assess presynaptic inhibition of the la monosynaptic pathway. Diazepam increased this inhibition in the patients with incomplete lesions, but had no significant effect on the inhibition in the patients with complete spinal transections.

Evidently diazepam can enhance presynaptic inhibition in man. The effect, however, cannot be demonstrated in patients with longstanding complete spinal lesions possibly because of some alteration in the segmental presynaptic inhibitory mechanism in this group.

Type
Research Article
Information
Canadian Journal of Neurological Sciences , Volume 2 , Issue 3 , August 1975 , pp. 179 - 184
Copyright
Copyright © Canadian Neurological Sciences Federation 1975

References

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