The effect of intraspinal microinjection of dopamine on the C-fiber reflex in the acute decerebrate spinal cat

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Dopamine microinjection (10 μg) into the ventral spinal cord gray matter of the L 7 segment of the spinal cord facilitated the C-fiber reflex; however, facilitation occurred after a latency of 15 min. In contrast norepinephrine (10 μg) microinjections facilitated the C-fiber reflex after a shorter latency (2 min). Treatment of the cat with a dopamine ß-hydroxylase inhibitor prevented the facilitatory effect of dopamine. These observations indicate that microinjected dopamine facilitates C-fiber reflexes by serving as a precursor for norepinephrine.