EN
Subcortical effects of tDSC were tested on direct and transsynaptic (monosynaptic) activation of reticulospinal and rubrospinal neurons in anesthetised rat and cat preparations. Rubrospinal neurons were activated by stimuli applied in the red nucleus (RN) and reticulospinal neurons via collaterals of reticulospinal neurons stimulated in the medial longitudinal fascicle (MLF), or collaterals of corticospinal neurons stimulated in the ipsilateral pyramidal tract (iPT). Responses of these neurons were facilitated by anodal polarization of the brain in the cat and by cathodal polarization in the rat. Facilitation was expressed by an increase in the amplitude and a decreased in the latency of EMG responses in the rat and of the descending volleys in the cat. tDCS did not facilitate actions of iPT neurons alone, but it increased the probability of activation of reticulospinal neurones by joint actions of ipsilateral and contralateral PTs, especially together with the MLF. All the facilitatory effects of tDCS outlasted its application up to 2 hours.