Richard M Wagers <cortical at earthlink.net> [Is that an ex-officio e-mail?]
of Organization: Synapse [ Is that the journal "Synapse"? ] kindly wrote:
Yves De Rop:
>>>Does someone knows what an ephapse is?
>> First, let me say I'm impressed with [the] answer from "Mentifex".
> He has quite an understanding of language. However, maybe I can
> provide an explanation/example to help clarify his illuminating
> description.
>> This term is occasionally used to explain how sympathetically maintained
> pain (RSDS) may develop. It is presumed that when the regenerating
> sprouts of sympathetic efferent and nociceptive primary afferents (both
> are non-myelinated C-type fibers) come in close proximity they form an
>"artificial synapse" called an Ephapse. The term isn't used commonly in
> the literature. Below are two references which (although old) may
> better clarify this topic. Hope this is helpful.
>> Richard-
> Granit R, Skoglund DR: Facilitation, inhibition and depression at the
>"artifical synapse" formed by the cut end of a mammalian nerve. J
> Physiology 103:435-448, 1945.
>> Doupe J, Cullen CH, Chance GQ: Post-traumatic pain and the causalgic
> syndrome. J Neurol Neurosurg Psychiatry 7:33-48, 1944
From where I (Mentifex/Arthur) sit on the U.S. West Coast, we have seen
Robert Stonehouse relate "Ephapse" to astronomy; then
Nikos Sarantakos gave us the authentically Hellenic viewpoint; next
Kalman Rubinson started the technical explanation, which
Richard M. Wagers has wrapped up with literature references.
