The guinea-pig step cycle: X-ray cinematographic analysis of the forelimb during pharmacologically induced "stepping automatism".

"Stepping automatism" has generally been studied in mesencephalic or spinal cats and has been induced electrically with the animal on a treadmill (Shik and Orlovsky 1976). Derivatives of 4-R-2,2,5,5-tetrakis (trifluoromethyl)-imidazoline (SIS = Substances capable of Inducing Stepping) I-IV (Liu 1985, Liu et al. 1984) can induce regular "stepping automatism" in guinea pigs. The present paper concerns the guinea-pig step cycle of the forelimb during SIS II-induced "stepping automatism" analysed with the use of X-ray cinematography and electromyography (EMG) studies in suspended animals. Results show that the flexion phase (F E1) and the extension phase (E2 E3) of the SIS-induced step cycle are quite comparable to those of the normal step cycle in other quadrupedal animals walking on the ground. The excursions of elbow, shoulder and scapula joints are all in phase in F and E3, whereas the scapula is largely out of phase with the elbow and shoulder during E1 and E2. It is surprising that during SIS II-induced locomotion in guinea pigs suspended in the air, "yield" could be seen in both, the elbow and the shoulder joints.