Tendon vibration-induced inhibition of human and cat triceps surae group I reflexes: Evidence of selective Ib afferent fiber activation

1986 ◽  
Vol 94 (2) ◽  
pp. 333-347 ◽  
Author(s):  
Linda F Hayward ◽  
Richard P Nielsen ◽  
Charles J Heckman ◽  
Robert S Hutton
Keyword(s):  
Afferent Fiber ◽  
Triceps Surae ◽  
Tendon Vibration ◽  
Group I

Absence of effects of contralateral group I muscle afferents on presynaptic inhibition of Ia terminals in humans and cats

2012 ◽  
Vol 108 (4) ◽  
pp. 1176-1185 ◽  
Author(s):  
Rinaldo André Mezzarane ◽  
André Fabio Kohn ◽  
Erika Couto-Roldan ◽  
Lourdes Martinez ◽  
Amira Flores ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Presynaptic Inhibition ◽  
Muscle Afferents ◽  
H Reflex ◽  
Triceps Surae ◽  
Reflex Response ◽  
Current View ◽  
Tendon Vibration ◽  
Vibratory Stimulus ◽  
Group I ◽  
Group I Afferents

Crossed effects from group I afferents on reflex excitability and their mechanisms of action are not yet well understood. The current view is that the influence is weak and takes place indirectly via oligosynaptic pathways. We examined possible contralateral effects from group I afferents on presynaptic inhibition of Ia terminals in humans and cats. In resting and seated human subjects the soleus (SO) H-reflex was conditioned by an electrical stimulus to the ipsilateral common peroneal nerve (CPN) to assess the level of presynaptic inhibition (PSI_control). A brief conditioning vibratory stimulus was applied to the triceps surae tendon at the contralateral side (to activate preferentially Ia muscle afferents). The amplitude of the resulting H-reflex response (PSI_conditioned) was compared to the H-reflex under PSI_control, i.e., without the vibration. The interstimulus interval between the brief vibratory stimulus and the electrical shock to the CPN was −60 to 60 ms. The H-reflex conditioned by both stimuli did not differ from that conditioned exclusively by the ipsilateral CPN stimulation. In anesthetized cats, bilateral monosynaptic reflexes (MSRs) in the left and right L7 ventral roots were recorded simultaneously. Conditioning stimulation applied to the contralateral group I posterior biceps and semitendinosus (PBSt) afferents at different time intervals (0–120 ms) did not have an effect on the ipsilateral gastrocnemius/soleus (GS) MSR. An additional experimental paradigm in the cat using contralateral tendon vibration, similar to that conducted in humans, was also performed. No significant differences between GS-MSRs conditioned by ipsilateral PBSt stimulus alone and those conditioned by both ipsilateral PBSt stimulus and contralateral tendon vibration were detected. The present results strongly suggest an absence of effects from contralateral group I fibers on the presynaptic mechanism of MSR modulation in relaxed humans and anesthetized cats.

Reflex cardiovascular responses evoked by selective activation of skeletal muscle ergoreceptors

2001 ◽  
Vol 90 (1) ◽  
pp. 308-316 ◽  
Author(s):  
B. G. Leshnower ◽  
J. T. Potts ◽  
M. G. Garry ◽  
J. H. Mitchell
Keyword(s):  
Skeletal Muscle ◽  
Muscle Contraction ◽  
Cardiovascular Response ◽  
Afferent Fiber ◽  
Cardiovascular Responses ◽  
Muscle Afferents ◽  
Triceps Surae ◽  
Muscle Stretch ◽  
Group Iii ◽  
Passive Muscle

It is well known that the exercise pressor reflex (EPR) is mediated by group III and IV skeletal muscle afferent fibers, which exhibit unique discharge responses to mechanical and chemical stimuli. Based on the difference in discharge patterns of group III and IV muscle afferents, we hypothesized that activation of mechanically sensitive (MS) fibers would evoke a different pattern of cardiovascular responses compared with activation of both MS and chemosensitive (CS) fibers. Experiments were conducted in chloralose-urethane-anesthetized cats ( n = 10). Passive muscle stretch was used to activate MS afferents, and electrically evoked contraction of the triceps surae was used to activate both MS and CS muscle afferents. No significant differences were shown in reflex heart rate and mean arterial pressure (MAP) responses between passive muscle stretch and evoked muscle contraction. However, when the reflex responses were matched according to tension-time index (TTI), the peak MAP response (67 ± 4 vs. 56 ± 4 mmHg, P < 0.05) was significantly greater at higher TTI (427 ± 18 vs. 304 ± 13 kg · s, high vs. low TTI, P < 0.05), despite different modes of afferent fiber activation. When the same mode of afferent fiber activation was compared, the peak MAP response (65 ± 7 vs. 55 ± 5 mmHg, P < 0.05) was again predicted by the magnitude of TTI (422 ± 24 vs. 298 ± 19 kg · s, high vs. low TTI, P < 0.05). Total sensory input from skeletal muscle ergoreceptors, as predicted by TTI and not the modality of afferent fiber activation (muscle contraction vs. passive stretch), is suggested to be the primary determinant of the magnitude of the EPR-evoked cardiovascular response.

Hoffmann reflex is increased after 14 days of daily repeated Achilles tendon vibration for the soleus but not for the gastrocnemii muscles

2012 ◽  
Vol 37 (1) ◽  
pp. 14-20 ◽  
Author(s):  
Thomas Lapole ◽  
Chantal Pérot
Keyword(s):  
Achilles Tendon ◽  
Motor Units ◽  
Muscle Spindles ◽  
Triceps Surae ◽  
Control Group ◽  
Tendon Vibration ◽  
Hoffmann Reflex ◽  
Reflex Excitability ◽  
Short Period ◽  
Post Test

In a previous study, Achilles tendon vibrations were enough to improve the triceps surae (TS) activation capacities and also to slightly increase TS Hoffmann reflex (H-reflex) obtained by summing up soleus (Sol) and gastrocnemii (GM and GL) EMGs. The purpose of the present study was to analyze separately Sol and GM or GL reflexes to account for different effects of the vibrations on the reflex excitability of the slow soleus and of the gastrocnemii muscles. A control group (n = 13) and a vibration group (n = 16) were tested in pre-test and post-test conditions. The Achilles tendon vibration program consisted of 1 h of daily vibration (frequency: 50 Hz) applied during 14 days. Maximal Sol, GM and GL H-reflexes, and M-waves were recorded, and their Hmax/Mmax ratios gave the index of reflex excitability. After the vibration protocol, only Sol Hmax/Mmax was enhanced (p < 0.001). The enhanced Sol reflex excitability after vibration is in favor of a decrease in the pre-synaptic inhibition due to the repeated vibrations and the high solicitation of the reflex pathway. Those results of a short period of vibration applied at rest may be limited to the soleus because of its high density in muscle spindles and slow motor units, both structures being very sensitive to vibrations.

Reduction of Ib autogenetic inhibition in motoneurons during contractions of an ankle extensor muscle in the cat

1990 ◽  
Vol 64 (5) ◽  
pp. 1380-1389 ◽  
Author(s):  
D. Zytnicki ◽  
J. Lafleur ◽  
G. Horcholle-Bossavit ◽  
F. Lamy ◽  
L. Jami
Keyword(s):  
Triceps Surae ◽  
Rapid Reduction ◽  
Excitatory Connection ◽  
Golgi Tendon Organs ◽  
Ia Afferents ◽  
Group I ◽  
Spinal Mechanism ◽  
Autogenetic Inhibition ◽  
Tendon Organs ◽  
Afferent Volleys

1. Triceps surae and plantaris (Pl) motoneurons were recorded intracellularly in chloralose or pentobarbital sodium (Nembutal)-anesthetized cats during unfused tetanic contractions of gastrocnemius medialis muscle (GM) produced by stimulating either a cut branch of the GM nerve or the muscle directly. 2. In alpha-motoneurons, during a series of GM twitches at 10/s, contraction-induced inhibitory potentials, probably the result of input from Golgi tendon organs (autogenetic inhibition), rapidly subsided before the end of the series. In contrast, excitatory potentials, probably the result of the activation of spindle primary endings during relaxation from contraction, persisted. 3. In gastrocnemius lateralis-soleus (GL-S) and Pl motoneurons lacking an excitatory connection with Ia afferents from GM, the sustained contraction of this muscle also elicited a declining inhibition. Rapid reduction of contraction-induced autogenetic inhibition was also observed in homonymous gamma-motoneurons. During unfused tetanic contractions lasting 0.5-4s, inhibitory potentials quickly subsided, but an abrupt increase in contractile force elicited a new series of decreasing inhibitory potentials. 4. The assumption that the inhibition induced by GM unfused tetanic contractions was due to activation of homonymous Ib afferents was supported by observations of the effects of electrical stimulation of the GM nerve. In Pl motoneurons lacking an excitatory connection with Ia afferents from GM, repetitive trains applied to the GM nerve, at a strength just above threshold for group I fibers, elicited rapidly declining inhibitory potentials similar to those produced by GM contraction. It was verified that during such stimulation, the amplitude of the group I afferent volleys did not decrease. 5. Reduction of contraction-induced Ib inhibition during sustained GM contraction was still present after a low spinalization of the preparation. As GM tendon organ discharges were verified to persist throughout prolonged contractions, the observed decline of autogenetic inhibition is likely to depend on a spinal mechanism, possibly involving presynaptic inhibition of Ib afferents and/or mutual inhibition of Ib-inhibitory interneurons.

Contraction-induced excitation in cat peroneal motoneurons

1995 ◽  
Vol 73 (3) ◽  
pp. 974-982 ◽  
Author(s):  
N. Kouchtir ◽  
J. F. Perrier ◽  
D. Zytnicki ◽  
L. Jami
Keyword(s):  
Electrical Stimulation ◽  
Distal Portion ◽  
Afferent Input ◽  
Ventral Root ◽  
Triceps Surae ◽  
Group I ◽  
Peroneus Brevis ◽  
Repetitive Electrical Stimulation ◽  
Tendon Organ ◽  
Stimulation Of

1. Motoneurons innervating peroneal muscles were recorded intracellularly in anesthetized cats during sustained submaximal isometric contractions of peroneus brevis produced by repetitive electrical stimulation of motor axons in the distal portion of cut ventral root filaments. 2. In contrast with the inhibition previously observed during contractions of gastrocnemius medialis muscle in triceps surae motoneurons, the afferent input generated by peroneus brevis contraction elicited excitatory potentials in nearly all motoneurons supplying peroneus brevis, peroneus tertius, or peroneus longus muscles. 3. We ascribed the contraction-induced excitation of peroneal motoneurons to spindle afferents for two reasons. First, the amplitude of contraction-induced excitatory potentials increased when the ventral root stimulation strength was increased to recruit gamma-axons. Second, with stimulation strengths under gamma-threshold, peroneus brevis contraction still excited peroneal motoneurons, and we obtained evidence that activation of spindles by skeletofusimotor beta-axons could account at least partly for this excitation. 4. The lack of contraction-induced inhibition in peroneal motoneurons and the prevalence of contraction-induced excitation raised the possibility that, in contrast to the usual effects of tendon organ afferents, Ib afferents from peroneus brevis might exert an excitatory influence on homonymous motoneurons. The fact that electrical stimulation of group I afferents in the nerve to peroneus brevis only exceptionally evoked inhibition in peroneal motoneurons would appear compatible with this hypothesis. Furthermore, stimulation of cutaneous afferents, known to facilitate transmission in Ib pathways, only exceptionally revealed a weak contraction-induced inhibition.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Regenerating sprouts of axotomized cat muscle afferents express characteristic firing patterns to mechanical stimulation

1991 ◽  
Vol 66 (6) ◽  
pp. 2155-2158 ◽  
Author(s):  
R. D. Johnson ◽  
J. B. Munson
Keyword(s):  
Muscle Afferents ◽  
Triceps Surae ◽  
Cutaneous Afferents ◽  
Spontaneous Discharge ◽  
Firing Patterns ◽  
Group I ◽  
Afferent Fibers ◽  
Physiological Properties ◽  
Muscle Afferent ◽  
Group Ii

1. In cats, we studied the physiological properties of regenerating sprouts of muscle afferent fibers and compared them with sprouts from cutaneous afferent fibers. 2. Muscle nerves to the triceps surae and cutaneous sural nerves were axotomized in the popliteal fossa, and the proximal ends were inserted into nerve cuffs. Six days later, we recorded action potentials from single Groups I and II muscle and mostly Group II cutaneous afferents driven by mechanostimulation of the cuff. 3. Most muscle afferent sprouts (91%) had a regular slowly adapting discharge in response to sustained mechanical displacement of the cuff, particularly to sustained stretch stimuli, whereas most cutaneous afferents (92%) did not. Muscle afferents were more likely to have a spontaneous discharge and afterdischarge. 4. Group II muscle afferent sprouts had lower stretch thresholds and a higher incidence of spontaneous discharge compared with Group I fiber sprouts, whereas Group I fibers had a higher incidence of high-frequency afterdischarge to mechanical stimuli. 5. We conclude that, 6 days after axotomy, regenerating sprouts of muscle afferents, particularly Group II afferents, have become mechanosensitive in the absence of a receptor target and exhibit physiological properties similar to those found when innervating their native muscle but significantly different from sprouts of cutaneous afferents. Expression of these native muscle afferent firing patterns after the inappropriate reinnervation of hairy skin may be due to inherent properties of the muscle afferent fiber.

An intracellular study of muscle primary afferents during fictive locomotion in the cat

1991 ◽  
Vol 65 (4) ◽  
pp. 914-926 ◽  
Author(s):  
J. P. Gossard ◽  
J. M. Cabelguen ◽  
S. Rossignol
Keyword(s):  
Muscle Spindle ◽  
Vastus Lateralis ◽  
Relative Size ◽  
Primary Afferents ◽  
Triceps Surae ◽  
Resting Potential ◽  
Fictive Locomotion ◽  
Group I ◽  
Group Ii ◽  
Bifunctional Muscle

1. Presynaptic activity of identified primary afferents from flexor, extensor, and bifunctional hindlimb muscles was studied with intra-axonal recordings during fictive locomotion. Fictive locomotion appeared spontaneously in decorticate cats (n = 9), with stimulation of the mesencephalic locomotor region (n = 4), and in spinal cats injected with clonidine or nialamide and L-DOPA (n = 4). Representative flexor and extensor muscle nerves, recorded to monitor the locomotor pattern and dorsal rootlets of the sixth and seventh lumbar segments, were recorded simultaneously to monitor dorsal root potentials (DRPs). 2. From responses to muscle stretches and, in some instances, twitch contractions of the parent muscle, 75% of the single units examined were putatively identified as spindle afferents (40/53). On the basis of conduction velocity and stimulation threshold, 73% of these were further classified as group I fibers (29/40), the rest as group II fibers. 3. All units (n = 53 with resting potential more negative than -45 mV) showed fluctuations of their membrane potential (up to 1.5 mV) at the rhythm of the fictive locomotion. Subsequent averaging of these fluctuations over several cycles revealed that 89% of all units displayed a predominant wave of depolarization during the flexor phase, followed by a trough of repolarization. In 79% of the units, there was also a second, usually smaller, depolarization during the extensor phase. The relative size of each wave of depolarization could vary with different episodes of fictive locomotion in the same unit and among various afferents from the same muscle in the same experiment. 4. The firing frequency of some afferents from the ankle flexor tibialis anterior (5/16) and the bifunctional muscle posterior biceps-semitendinosus (4/15) was phasically modulated along the fictive step cycle. The maximum frequency always occurred during the flexor phase, i.e., during the largest depolarization of the unit. Because of the absence of phasic sensory input in the curarized animal, we assume that the phasic discharges were generated within the spinal cord and antidromically propagated. Phasic firing was never encountered in afferents from extensor muscles such as triceps surae (0/15) and vastus lateralis (0/4). 5. The results demonstrate that the pattern of rhythmic depolarization accompanying fictive locomotion is similar for the majority of flexor, extensor, and bifunctional group I (and possibly group II) muscle spindle primary afferents. They further indicate that there is a specific phasic modulation of antidromic firing for some flexor and bifunctional muscle spindle afferents.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 400 WORDS)

scholarly journals Involuntary sustained firing of plantar flexor motor neurones: effect of electrical stimulation parameters during tendon vibration

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ricardo N. O. Mesquita ◽  
Janet L. Taylor ◽  
Benjamin Kirk ◽  
Anthony J. Blazevich
Keyword(s):  
Electrical Stimulation ◽  
Pulse Width ◽  
Neuromuscular Electrical Stimulation ◽  
Voluntary Contraction ◽  
Triceps Surae ◽  
Tendon Vibration ◽  
Plantar Flexor ◽  
Intensity Pattern ◽  
Simultaneous Application ◽  
Motor Neurones

Abstract Purpose Simultaneous application of tendon vibration and neuromuscular electrical stimulation (NMES) induces an involuntary sustained torque. We examined the effect of different NMES parameters (intensity, pattern of stimulation and pulse width) on the magnitude of the evoked involuntary torque. Methods Plantar flexor torque was recorded during 33-s Achilles tendon vibration with simultaneous 20-Hz NMES bouts on triceps surae (n = 20; 13 women). Intensity was set to elicit 10, 20 or 30% of maximal voluntary contraction torque (MVC), pulse width was narrow (0.2 ms) or wide (1 ms), and the stimulus pattern varied (5 × 2-s or 10 × 1-s). Up to 12 different trials were performed in a randomized order, and then repeated in those who produced a sustained involuntary torque after the cessation of vibration. Results Six of 7 men and 5 of 13 women produced a post-vibration sustained torque. Eight of 20 participants did not complete the 30% trials, as they were perceived as painful. Torque during vibration at the end of NMES and the increase in torque throughout the trial were significantly higher in 20 than 10% trials (n = 11; 9.7 ± 9.0 vs 7.1 ± 6.1% MVC and 4.3 ± 4.5 vs 3.6 ± 3.5% MVC, respectively). Post-vibration sustained torque was higher in wide pulse-width trials (5.4 ± 5.9 vs 4.1 ± 4.3% MVC). Measures of involuntary torque were not different between 20 and 30% trials (n = 8). Conclusion Bouts of 5 × 2-s NMES with wide pulse width eliciting 20% MVC provides the most robust responses and could be used to maximise the production of involuntary torque in triceps surae.

scholarly journals Ipsi- and Contralateral Oligo- and Polysynaptic Reflexes in Humans Revealed by Low-Frequency Epidural Electrical Stimulation of the Lumbar Spinal Cord

2021 ◽  
Vol 11 (1) ◽  
pp. 112
Author(s):  
Ursula S. Hofstoetter ◽  
Simon M. Danner ◽  
Brigitta Freundl ◽  
Heinrich Binder ◽  
Peter Lackner ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Spinal Cord ◽  
Electrical Stimulation ◽  
Tibialis Anterior ◽  
Experimental Studies ◽  
Low Frequency ◽  
Triceps Surae ◽  
Lumbar Spinal Cord ◽  
Group I ◽  
Cord Injury ◽  
Functional Components

Epidural electrical stimulation (EES) applied over the human lumbosacral spinal cord provides access to afferent fibers from virtually all lower-extremity nerves. These afferents connect to spinal networks that play a pivotal role in the control of locomotion. Studying EES-evoked responses mediated through these networks can identify some of their functional components. We here analyzed electromyographic (EMG) responses evoked by low-frequency (2–6 Hz) EES derived from eight individuals with chronic, motor complete spinal cord injury. We identified and separately analyzed three previously undescribed response types: first, crossed reflexes with onset latencies of ~55 ms evoked in the hamstrings; second, oligosynaptic reflexes within 50 ms post-stimulus superimposed on the monosynaptic posterior root-muscle reflexes in the flexor muscle tibialis anterior, but with higher thresholds and no rate-sensitive depression; third, polysynaptic responses with variable EMG shapes within 50–450 ms post-stimulus evoked in the tibialis anterior and triceps surae, some of which demonstrated consistent changes in latencies with graded EES. Our observations suggest the activation of commissural neurons, lumbar propriospinal interneurons, and components of the late flexion reflex circuits through group I and II proprioceptive afferent inputs. These potential neural underpinnings have all been related to spinal locomotion in experimental studies.

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