RECOVERY OF THE TONGUE FROM CURARE PARALYSIS, FOLLOWING PROLONGED STIMULATION OF THE HYPOGLOSSAL NERVE

Abstract

Tetanization of the hypoglossal nerve in curarized cats [18 experiments] for 5-15 min., facilitates restoration of conduction between the nerve and the tongue muscle. This was demonstrated by comparison with the opposite resting nerve during slow intravenous injection of physostigmine. In lightly curarized preparations simple tetanization of the nerve may restore indirect excitation of the muscle, without the use of physostigmine. This effect is not due to vascular changes in the tongue, nor to any influence of sympathetic F1bers in the hypoglossal nerve. It is suggested that previous activity in a nerve may so modify the propagated, disturbance as to make it more effective in passing a curare block.-.