[The effects of DC high electric field exposure upon sensory receptors of cat's hindlimb].

Concerning the mechanisms of effects of high electric field exposure on animals there may be two possibilities; one is a possible effects upon organs due to induced electric current within the body, and another one is effects due to the electric field distributing over the body surface. The purpose of the present experiments is to investigate the latter possibility by recording action potentials from afferent fibers innervating various sensory receptors in the cat's hindlimb. Upon exposure of DC electric fields of 1.8 kV/cm or stronger cat's hairs were pulled to the upper electrode, and action potentials were evoked on afferent fibers innervating G1, G2 hair receptors and down hair receptors. No action potential was evoked in afferent fibers innervating type I, type II, field receptors, muscle spindles and joint receptors. These results indicate that high DC electric field induced the movement of hairs which eventually evoked action potentials innervating the hair receptors and those receptors situated under the skin were not influenced by the electric field.