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PubMed1995

Effects of GABAergic drugs on the recovery of reflex potentials after spinal cord ischemia in cats.

Effects of GABAergic drugs on the recovery of reflex potentials after spinal cord ischemia were examined in anesthethized spinal cats. Monosynaptic reflex (MSR) and polysynaptic reflex (PSR) potentials, elicited by electrical stimulation of the tibial nerve in spinal cats, were recorded from the lumbo-sacral ventral root. The spinal reflex potentials were immediately depressed by occlusion of the thoracic aorta and the bilateral mammary arteries for 10 min. The potentials recovered gradually to the control level within 90 min after reperfusion. Pretreatment with bicuculline (0.3 mg/kg, i.v.), a GABA antagonist, or semicarbazide (200 mg/kg, i.v.), an inhibitor of GABA synthesis, accelerated the recovery of PSR potentials after the removal of the arterial occlusion. In contrast, pretreatment with aminooxyacetic acid (10 mg/kg, i.v.), an inhibitor of GABA degradation, retarded the recovery of PSR potentials, and this effect was overcome by the addition of the opioid antagonist naloxone (10 mg/kg, i.v.). These results suggest that the GABAergic system retards the recovery of PSR potentials after a brief spinal cord ischemia, which can be antagonized by naloxone.

Animals↗

PubMed1988

Human jaw muscle motor behaviour. II. Reflex and receptor mechanisms.

The stretch reflex is much more complicated than the simple tendon jerk with a monosynaptic reflex pathway. Muscle stretch is not a necessary prerequisite to elicit the short latency EMG excitatory response. Long latency EMG responses are probably of greater functional importance. The silent period (SP) following the jaw jerk is prolonged in patients with symptoms of mandibular dysfunction. In the individual case, however, measurement of the SP may not be of diagnostic value. The Golgi tendon organs are highly sensitive tension receptors which play a much larger role in the proprioceptive regulation of muscle tension than has been believed in the past. So-called type P mechanoreceptors which like a large part of the periodontal receptors have their cells of origin in the mesencephalic nucleus V, have been found in the hard palate. The majority of periodontal mechanoreceptors are slowly adapting and thus able to respond with sustained discharge to long lasting stimulation, as during chenching or bruxing. The postural position has been assigned great clinical significance. It has been assumed that this position is constant throughout life. It has, however, been observed that the postural position rapidly adapts to changes of the vertical occlusal dimension.

Electromyography↗

PubMed1982

Selective depression of synaptic transmission of spinal neurones in the cat by a new centrally acting muscle relaxant, 5-chloro-4-(2-imidazolin-2-yl-amino)-2, 1, 3-benzothiodazole (DS103-282).

1 The effects of a new muscle relaxant, 5-chloro-(2-imidazolin-2-yl-amino)-2, 1, 3-benzothiodazole (DS103-282) have been examined on segmental reflexes and responses of single neurones in the spinal cord of the anaesthetized cat to stimulation of peripheral afferents, ventral roots, acetylcholine and various amino acids. Drugs were administered intravenously and/or iontophoretically.2 Polysynaptic reflexes were depressed in a dose-dependent manner by 0.01-0.1 mg/kg DS103-282 whereas monosynaptic reflexes were relatively insensitive to this agent.3 In studies on single dorsal horn neurones, iontophoretically and intravenously administered DS103-282 depressed synaptic excitatory responses, polysynaptic responses being much more sensitive to this agent than monosynaptic responses. In contrast (-)-baclofen preferentially reduced monosynaptic excitation.4 Doses or ejecting currents of DS103-282 which greatly depressed polysynaptic excitatory responses also reduced spontaneous firing of neurones, but either had no effect or minimal depressant effects on responses to iotophoretically administered excitant amino acids. Acetylcholine-induced excitation of Renshaw cells was depressed by iontophoretically (but not intravenously) administered DS103-282, although ventral root-evoked responses of these cells were insensitive to this agent.5 Inhibition of spinal neurones by stimulation of peripheral nerves or by iontophoresis of gamma-aminobutyric acid or glycine was unaffected by DS103-282.6 These results indicate that DS103-282 preferentially depresses peripherally evoked polysynaptic excitation of spinal neurones probably by an action on the terminals of excitatory interneurones.

Amino Acids↗

PubMed2006

The posture-related interaction between Ia-afferent and descending input on the spinal reflex excitability in humans.

The separate and combined depressive effects induced by vibration and standing on the soleus H-reflex have been studied by administering Achilles' tendon vibration in prone position and during stance. Without vibration, H-reflex amplitude was larger under prone than standing condition. Vibration reduced the reflex both in prone position and even more during stance. When vibration was superimposed to inclined stance (greater EMG background), the reflex was reduced of the same absolute amount as when it was superimposed to normal stance. When vibration was superimposed on stance with minimal or no background EMG, the reflex disappeared. These results confirm that both upright posture and vibration have a strong depressive effect on the H-reflex. They also show that muscle activity during stance is enough for overcoming the reflex depression. These findings provide information about the origin of the disfacilitatory effects on the monosynaptic reflex pathway, contribute to the understanding of the posture-related mechanisms responsible for the modulation of the spinal reflex excitability, and allow arguing in favour of a minor but adaptable role for the short latency stretch reflex in the control of quiet unperturbed stance.

Adult↗

PubMed2002

Interaction between peripheral afferent activity and presynaptic inhibition of ia afferents in the cat.

It has been demonstrated in man that the H-reflex is more depressed by presynaptic inhibition than the stretch reflex. Here we investigated this finding further in the alpha-chloralose-anesthetized cat. Soleus monosynaptic reflexes were evoked by electrical stimulation of the tibial nerve or by stretch of the triceps surae muscle. Conditioning stimulation of the posterior biceps and semitendinosus nerve (PBSt) produced a significantly stronger depression of the electrically than the mechanically evoked reflexes. The depression of the reflexes has been shown to be caused by presynaptic inhibition of triceps surae Ia afferents. We investigated the hypothesis that repetitive activation of peripheral afferents may reduce their sensitivity to presynaptic inhibition. In triceps surae motoneurones, we measured the effect of presynaptic inhibition on excitatory postsynaptic potentials (EPSPs) produced by repetitive activation of the peripheral afferents or by fast and slow muscle stretch. EPSPs evoked by single electrical stimulation of the tibial nerve or by fast muscle stretch were significantly depressed by PBSt stimulation. However, the last EPSP in a series of EPSPs evoked by a train of electrical stimuli (5-6 shocks, 150-200 Hz) was significantly less depressed by the conditioning stimulation than the first EPSP. In addition, the last part of the long-lasting EPSPs evoked by a slow muscle stretch was also less depressed than the first part. A single EPSP evoked by stimulation of the medial gastrocnemius nerve was less depressed when preceded by a train of stimuli applied to the same nerve than when the same train of stimuli was applied to a synergistic nerve. The decreased sensitivity of the test EPSP to presynaptic inhibition was maximal when it was evoked within 20 ms after the train of EPSPs. It was not observed at intervals longer than 30 ms. These findings suggest that afferent activity may decrease the efficiency of presynaptic inhibition. We propose that the described interaction between afferent nerve activity and presynaptic inhibition may partly explain why electrically and mechanically evoked reflexes are differently sensitive to presynaptic inhibition.

Animals↗

PubMed1993

Reflex behavior and programming in Parkinson's disease.

Several aspects of characteristically impaired postural adjustments indicate a defective central programming of the respective EMG patterns in PD. This may be due to deficits in the supraspinal control of spinal interneuronal circuits. This impairment obviously contributes to the difficulty of these patients in performing two motor acts simultaneously. In addition, parkinsonian patients exhibit a reduced sensitivity of polysynaptic reflexes in the leg extensor muscles which correlates with their postural instability. The activity of monosynaptic reflexes is negligible, as in healthy subjects. The impairment of proprioceptive reflex function may be partially compensated for by changes of intrinsic muscle stiffness. Discrepancies in the literature about the behavior of the polysynaptic EMG responses in parkinsonian patients may in part arise from the fact that it depends on both the particular muscle under study and the actual motor task investigated.

1-Methyl-4-phenyl-1,2,3,6-tetrahydropyridine↗

PubMed1977

[Block of presynaptic inhibition of spinal cord reflexes by ammonium acetate].

In experiments on cats ammonium acetate (AA) injected intravenously (2--4 mM/kg body weight) depressed the process of primary afferent depolarization (PAD) which were thought to be responsible for presynaptic inhibition of spinal reflexes. PAD depression is reversible and proceeds in parallel to depression of postsynaptic inhibition of monosynaptic reflexes. The ammonium depression of PAD is not connected with the block of the negative postsynaptic potential recorded from the dorsal surface of the spinal cord or with the block of the reflex electrical discharges from the ventral roots. A conclusion was drawn that one of the possible mechanisms for convulsive action of AA consists in depression of presynaptic inhibition. It is supposed that the depression of PAD by AA results from the block of the chloride ion pump existing in primary afferent terminals. The block of the pump leads to abolition of the EMF for the outwardly directed transmembrane chloride current producing PAD.

Acetates↗

PubMed1988

The pathophysiology of acute experimental allergic encephalomyelitis induced by whole spinal cord in the Lewis rat.

Histological and electrophysiological studies were performed on Lewis rats with acute experimental allergic encephalomyelitis (EAE) induced by inoculation with guinea-pig spinal cord and Freund's adjuvants, in order to determine the cause of the neurological signs. These studies demonstrated demyelination-induced nerve conduction block in the large and also the smaller diameter fibres at the ventral root exit zone (VREZ) of the lumbar spinal cord. The demyelination at the VREZ affected both centrally and peripherally myelinated internodes, but predominantly the former. Studies on the H reflex recorded from a hindfoot muscle indicated normal peripheral nerve motor conduction but interruption of the monosynaptic reflex arc, as would be anticipated from this efferent conduction block and previously reported afferent conduction abnormalities. It is concluded that conduction block in alpha, beta and gamma motor fibres at the VREZ is an important cause of hindlimb weakness in whole spinal cord-induced acute EAE.

Animals↗

PubMedDate not supplied

Disorder of phase-related modulation of soleus H-reflex during hip movement in stroke patients.

PURPOSE: The soleus H-reflex during passive hip movement was measured to clarify the modulation of excitability of the soleus monosynaptic reflex during locomotion-like movement in spastic stroke patients. METHOD: The experiment was performed in five patients with spastic hemiparesis. The hip joint was moved passively ranging from 0 to 40 degrees. The knee joint was fixed at full extension and the ankle joint was fixed at the mid-position. During the movement, the soleus M-wave and soleus H-reflex were measured. RESULTS: Flexion caused a decrease in the soleus H-reflex, whereas extension caused an increase symmetrically for both the static and dynamic conditions. In addition, the lowest value was observed at the end of the flexion phase during fast movement. CONCLUSION: These findings indicate that the phase-related modulation of soleus H-reflex during hip movement is partially disordered in stroke patients.

Adaptation, Physiological↗

PubMed1976

The lack of deep reflexes in myotonic dystrophy.

Clinical and electrophysiological observations have been carried out on 12 patients with myotonic dystrophy. Neurological examination showed that the tendon reflexes were absent or weak in almost all cases, whereas the cutaneous reflexes were normal. Examination of both deep and superficial sensibility gave normal results. Electromyography confirmed widespread "myopathic" activity and myotonic discharges were recorded on insertion of the needle electrode and at rest. Motor and sensory conduction velocity in the ulnar nerve and motor conduction in the peroneal nerve proved to be normal. Repetitive supramaximal nerve stimulation showed in 10 cases a decrease in potential amplitude, more evident at higher frequencies of stimulation. In the 2 other cases, by contrast, an increase in amplitude was observed, and this was suggestive of a partial presynaptic block. The jaw reflex was absent in 5 cases and reduced in amplitude in the 7 other cases. The results of blink reflex investigations were normal, with the exception of 2 cases where no early response was elicited. Spinal monosynaptic reflexes were absent in 7 cases after both electrical (H reflex) and mechanical stimulation (T reflex), whereas the response to direct stimulation of nerve motor fibres (the M response) was always present, even though reduced in amplitude. Such data lead one to reject the hypothesis that the absence of deep reflexes is due to pathological change in the muscle spindles. It seems more likely that the selective atrophy of Type 1 muscle fibres, known to be involved in deep reflex responses, is responsible for the early disappearance of the tendon reflexes.

Action Potentials↗

PubMed2001

Stance control is not affected by paresis and reflex hyperexcitability: the case of spastic patients.

OBJECTIVES: Spastic patients were studied to understand whether stance unsteadiness is associated with changes in the control of voluntary force, muscle tone, or reflex excitability, rather than to abnormal posture connected to the motor deficit itself. METHODS: Twenty four normal subjects, 12 patients affected by amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), seven by spastic paraparesis, and 14 by hemiparesis were studied. All patients featured various degrees of spasticity and paresis but were free from clinically evident sensory deficits. Body sway during quiet upright stance was assessed through a stabilometric platform under both eyes open (EO) and eyes closed (EC) conditions. The sudden rotation of a supporting platform, in a toe up and toe down direction respectively, evoked short (SLR) and medium latency (MLR) reflex responses to stretch of the soleus or the tibialis anterior (TA) muscle. RESULTS: No relation was found between clinical findings (tone, muscle strength, tendon reflexes, plantar response, and duration of disease) and body sway. On average, all patient groups exhibited a forward shift of the centre of foot pressure (CFP) with respect to normal subjects; in addition, paraparetic and to a much larger extent hemiparetic patients showed a lateral shift of CFP. Body sway area was significantly increased only in the hemiparetic patients. No relation was found between position of the CFP and sway within any patient group. Soleus SLR was increased in all patients with respect to normal subjects. TA SLR was often seen in both patients with ALS and paraparetic patients, but only rarely in normal subjects and hemiparetic patients. However, no relation was found between amplitude of soleus or TA SLRs and stabilometric variables. The frequency and size of soleus MLR and TA MLR were decreased in all patients. These responses were decreased in size and not modulated by background EMG in the affected leg of hemiparetic patients, suggesting a disturbed control of spinal reflexes fed by spindle group II afferent fibres. CONCLUSIONS: It is proposed that body posture, paresis, or monosynaptic reflex hyperexcitability do not affect the control of equilibrium during quiet upright stance. In hemiparetic patients, the decreased amplitude of MLRs might be the main cause of the large postural instability. The results are congruent with the hypothesis of a role for group II afferent input in the reflex control of equilibrium.

Adult↗

PubMed1990

Noradrenergic modulation of the masseteric reflex in behaving cats. I. Pharmacological studies.

The masseteric (jaw closure) reflex was utilized as a model system for assessing functional changes in central norepinephrine (NE) neurotransmission. This monosynaptic reflex was chosen because of its simple and well-defined circuitry, and because its motor component receives a dense NE innervation. Previous experiments in our laboratory described NE modulation of this reflex in the anesthetized rat. The present experiments examine the effects of NE on this response in the unanesthetized, behaving cat. The masseteric reflex was elicited by electrical stimulation of the mesencephalic trigeminal nucleus, and the response was recorded via electrodes permanently implanted in the masseter muscle. The amplitude of the reflex response was measured before and at various intervals following microinfusion (0.5 microliters) of NE or of various NE agonists directly into the motor trigeminal nucleus (MoV). Microinfusions of NE (0.125-5.0 micrograms) produced dose-dependent increases in the amplitude of the elicited reflex response. These effects were evident within 1 min postinfusion and lasted up to 30 min; in all cases, the response amplitude returned to baseline levels. The increase seen in response to 0.5 micrograms NE was blocked by pretreatment with the alpha-1-adrenergic antagonist prazosin, but not by pretreatment with the serotonin (5-HT) antagonist methysergide. Methysergide did, however, completely block the increase in the amplitude seen in response to microinfusion of 5-HT. Infusion of the alpha-1-adrenergic agonist phenylephrine also increased the amplitude of the reflex response. By contrast, infusion of the beta-adrenergic agonist isoproterenol had no effect, whereas clonidine, a presynaptic alpha-2-adrenergic agonist, decreased its amplitude.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Animals↗

PubMed1977

Effects of beta-(p-chlorophenyl)-GABA (baclofen) on spinal synaptic activity.

In the isolated perfused spinal cord of the bullfrog, baclofen caused a reduction in the rate of spontaneous discharges in the ventral root at lower concentrations than GABA. The inhibitory effect of baclofen was fully present in a chloride-free medium, whereas that of GABA was markedly reduced. In contrast to GABA, which depolarized the dorsal root, baclofen produced a hyperpolarization in the dorsal root. Moreover, baclofen produced a hyperpolarization in the ventral roots. In the rat, the development of spinal reflex inhibition by baclofen was slow and the effect was long-lasting. Baclofen decreased dorsal root reflexes, suggesting a decreased excitability of presynaptic fibres. Baclofen produced a more pronounced and faster inhibitory effect on monosynaptic reflexes than on polysynaptic reflexes. In the monoamine depleted rat, the effect of baclofen on both types of reflexes was markedly reduced. It appears that catecholamines are involved in the effects produced by baclofen.

Action Potentials↗

PubMed1979

Mode of action of dantrolene sodium in spasticity.

The mode of action of dantrolene sodium was studied in 11 multiple sclerosis patients with spastic paresis of the legs by measurements of changes in electromyographic and mechanomyographic proprioceptive reflex responses and in voluntary power. Dantrolene sodium 0.5 mg per kg body weight given intravenously clearly reduced monosynaptic reflex twitch tension, but voluntary power only moderately so. The electromyographic reflex responses were unchanged or slightly increased. The mode of action of the drug on spindle function is discussed on the basis of the present findings and the literature. It is concluded that dantrolene sodium does not reduce spindle stretch sensitivity, but probably reduces activity in group II and tonic 1a afferent fibers.

Dantrolene↗

PubMed1997

Testing for pre-synaptic and post-synaptic changes in the soleus H reflex pathway following selective muscle vibration in humans.

Muscle vibration does not affect post-synaptic excitability of the corresponding motoneuronal pool, the concurrent depression of the monosynaptic reflex resulting from a pre-motoneuronal block of Ia spindle afferents. Indeed (1) both homonymous and heteronymous soleus responses (to electrical stimulation of the posterior tibial nerve (TN) and femoral nerve (FN), respectively) are clearly depressed during selective vibration of the homologous muscle (namely soleus (S) or quadriceps (Q)), but remain completely unchanged during vibration of the heterologous muscle (i.e. Q or S); (2) the effectiveness of facilitatory conditioning of FN and TN Ia afferents, respectively on the S motoneuronal pool is definitely reduced during vibration of the homologous muscle (namely Q and S).

Adult↗

PubMed2005

Reflex reciprocal facilitation of antagonist muscles in spinal cord injury.

STUDY DESIGN: Electromyographic study in complete and incomplete spinal cord injury (SCI). OBJECTIVE: To examine the changes in the pattern of reciprocal inhibition between agonist and antagonist muscles in SCI. SETTINGS: Sensory Motor Performance Program, Rehabilitation Institute of Chicago, IL, USA. METHODS: Tendon taps were delivered manually with an instrumented hammer to the tendons of the tibialis anterior and soleus muscle in positions of full-ankle dorsiflexion and plantarflexion in eight subjects with complete SCI and eight subjects with incomplete SCI. Electromyographic activity (EMG) was recorded from ankle dorsiflexor and plantarflexor muscles. Tapping force was also recorded by a force sensor mounted to the tendon hammer, indicating the stimulus onset. Measures of reflex EMG magnitude and reflex latency were obtained for both agonist and antagonist muscles. The ratio of antagonist to agonist EMG was computed based on normalized EMG. RESULTS: Substantial reflex responses occurred in both the stretched muscle and in its antagonist. The reflex in antagonist, which we term 'reciprocal facilitation (RF)', was most evident in subjects with incomplete SCI. The magnitude of RF was consistently greater than reflex responses in agonist muscles under all test conditions. The latency of the RF was comparable to that of monosynaptic reflex response. CONCLUSIONS: Following SCI, reciprocal organization of segmental reflexes at the ankle is often partially or completely suppressed, allowing reflex activation in antagonist muscles to be manifested. Possible mechanisms underlying these changes in neural organization are discussed. SPONSORSHIP: This study was supported by Spinal Cord Research Foundation, the Paralyzed Veterans of America.

Adult↗

PubMed2000

Distribution of presynaptic inhibition on type-identified motoneurones in the extensor carpi radialis pool in man.

The question was addressed as to whether the magnitude of Ia presynaptic inhibition might depend on the type of motor unit activated during voluntary contraction in the wrist extensor muscles. For this purpose, we investigated the effects of applying electrical stimulation to the median nerve on the responses of 25 identified motor units to radial nerve stimulation delivered 20 ms after a conditioning stimulation. The reflex responses of the motor units yielded peaks in the post-stimulus time histograms with latencies compatible with monosynaptic activation. Although median nerve stimulation did not affect the motoneurone net excitatory drive assessed from the mean duration of the inter-spike interval, it led to a decrease in the contents of the first two 0.25 ms bins of the peak. This decrease may be consistent with the Ia presynaptic inhibition known to occur under these stimulation conditions. In the trials in which the median nerve was being stimulated, the finding that the response probability of the motor units, even in their monosynaptic components, tended to increase as their force threshold and their macro-potential area increased and as their twitch contraction time decreased suggests that the median nerve stimulation may have altered the efficiency with which the Ia inputs recruited the motoneurones in the pool. These effects were consistently observed in seven pairs of motor units each consisting of one slow and one fast contracting motor unit which were simultaneously tested, which suggests that the magnitude of the Ia presynaptic inhibition may depend on the type of motor unit tested rather than on the motoneurone pool excitatory drive. The present data suggest for the first time that in humans, the Ia presynaptic inhibition may show an upward gradient working from fast to slow contracting motor units which is able to compensate for the downward gradient in monosynaptic reflex excitation from 'slow' to 'fast' motor units. From a functional point of view, a weaker Ia presynaptic inhibition acting on the fast contracting motor units may contribute to improving the proprioceptive assistance to the wrist myotatic unit when the contraction force has to be increased.

Adult↗

PubMed1984

The stiff-man syndrome: new pathophysiological aspects from abnormal exteroceptive reflexes and the response to clomipramine, clonidine, and tizanidine.

Neurophysiological investigations of a patient suffering from the stiff-man syndrome revealed that exteroceptive reflexes, in particular those elicited from the skin, were excessively enhanced. In contrast, no abnormalities were found within the monosynaptic reflex arc. Clomipramine injection severely aggravated the clinical symptoms whereas diazepam, clonidine, and tizanidine decreased both muscular stiffness and abnormal exteroceptive reflexes. The hypothesis is put forward that the stiff-man syndrome is a disorder of descending brain-stem systems which exert a net inhibitory control on axial and limb girdle muscle tone as well as on exteroceptive reflex transmission. Detection of abnormal exteroceptive reflex activity in conjunction with neuropharmacological testing might help in the diagnosis of this rare disease.

Adult↗