Group III muscle afferents evoke reflex depressor responses to repetitive muscle contractions in rabbits

2000 ◽  
Vol 278 (3) ◽  
pp. H871-H877 ◽  
Author(s):  
J. M. Legramante ◽  
G. Raimondi ◽  
C. M. Adreani ◽  
S. Sacco ◽  
F. Iellamo ◽  
...  

Repetitive-twitch contraction of the hindlimb muscles in anesthetized rabbits consistently evokes a reflex depressor response, whereas this type of contraction in anesthetized cats evokes a reflex pressor response in about one-half of the preparations tested. Rapidly conducting group III fibers appear to comprise the afferent arm of the reflex arc, evoking the depressor response to twitch contraction in rabbits because electrical stimulation of their axons reflexly decreases arterial pressure. In contrast, electrical stimulation of the axons of slowly conducting group III and group IV afferents reflexly increases arterial pressure in rabbits. In the present study, we examined the discharge properties of group III and IV muscle afferents and found that the former (i.e., 13 of 20), but not the latter (i.e., 0 of 10), were stimulated by 5 min of repetitive-twitch contraction (1 Hz) of the rabbit triceps surae muscles. Moreover, most of the group III afferents responding to contraction appeared to be mechanically sensitive, discharging in synchrony with the muscle twitch. On average, rapidly conducting group III afferents responded for the 5-min duration of 1-Hz repetitive-twitch contraction, whereas slowly conducting group III afferents responded only for the first 2 min of contraction. We conclude that rapidly conducting group III afferents, which are mechanically sensitive, are primarily responsible for evoking the reflex depressor response to repetitive-twitch contractions in anesthetized rabbits.

1998 ◽  
Vol 274 (5) ◽  
pp. H1552-H1559 ◽  
Author(s):  
Janeen M. Hill ◽  
Marc P. Kaufman

We determined the effects of stimulation of the mesencephalic locomotor region (MLR) and the muscle reflex, each evoked separately, on the discharge of cutaneous sympathetic fibers innervating the hairy skin of decerebrate cats. Electrical stimulation of the MLR was performed while the cats were paralyzed with vecuronium bromide. The muscle reflex was evoked while the cats were not paralyzed by electrical stimulation of the tibial nerve at current intensities that did not activate directly group III and IV muscle afferents. MLR stimulation increased, on average, the discharge of the 23 cutaneous sympathetic fibers tested ( P < 0.05). The muscle reflex, in contrast, had no overall effect on the discharge of 21 sympathetic fibers tested ( P > 0.05). Both maneuvers markedly increased mean arterial pressure and heart rate ( P < 0.05). Prevention of the baroreceptor reflex with the α-adrenergic blocking agent phentolamine did not reveal a stimulatory effect of the muscle reflex on cutaneous sympathetic discharge. We conclude that the MLR is a more important mechanism than is the muscle reflex in controlling sympathetic discharge to hairy skin during dynamic exercise.


2001 ◽  
Vol 280 (5) ◽  
pp. H2153-H2161 ◽  
Author(s):  
Shawn G. Hayes ◽  
Marc P. Kaufman

The exercise pressor reflex, which arises from the contraction-induced stimulation of group III and IV muscle afferents, is widely believed to be evoked by metabolic stimuli signaling a mismatch between blood/oxygen demand and supply in the working muscles. Nevertheless, mechanical stimuli may also play a role in evoking the exercise pressor reflex. To determine this role, we examined the effect of gadolinium, which blocks mechanosensitive channels, on the exercise pressor reflex in both decerebrate and α-chloralose-anesthetized cats. We found that gadolinium (10 mM; 1 ml) injected into the femoral artery significantly attenuated the reflex pressor responses to static contraction of the triceps surae muscles and to stretch of the calcaneal (Achilles) tendon. In contrast, gadolinium had no effect on the reflex pressor response to femoral arterial injection of capsaicin (5 μg). In addition, gadolinium significantly attenuated the responses of group III muscle afferents, many of which are mechanically sensitive, to both static contraction and to tendon stretch. Gadolinium, however, had no effect on the responses of group IV muscle afferents, many of which are metabolically sensitive, to either static contraction or to capsaicin injection. We conclude that mechanical stimuli arising in contracting skeletal muscles contribute to the elicitation of the exercise pressor reflex.


1985 ◽  
Vol 63 (7) ◽  
pp. 816-824 ◽  
Author(s):  
Michael B. Gutman ◽  
John Ciriello ◽  
Gordon J. Mogenson

It has recently been reported that stimulation of the region of the subfornical organ (SFO) elicits an increase in arterial pressure. However, the mechanisms and forebrain neural circuitry that are involved in this cardiovascular response have not been elucidated. The present study was done in urethane-anaesthetized rats to determine whether selective activation of SFO neurons elicit cardiovascular responses and whether these responses were mediated by a pathway involving the paraventricular nucleus of the hypothalamus (PVH). Stimulation sites which required the lowest threshold current (30 μA) to elicit a pressor response and at which the largest rise in mean arterial pressure (MAP; 22 ± 2 mmHg) was elicited at a constant current intensity (150 μA) were histologically localized in the region of the SFO. Short (mean peak latency; 4 ± 2 s) and long (mean peak latency; 61 ± 8 s) latency increases in MAP were observed during and after electrical stimulation of the SFO, respectively. Cardiac slowing accompanied the short latency pressor response and cardioacceleration was observed in most (57%) of the cases to accompany the late pressor response. Microinjection of L-glutamate into the SFO consistently elicited cardiovascular responses qualitatively similar to those observed during electrical stimulation. Ganglionic blockade abolished the short latency increase in MAP and the accompanying bradycardia. However, the long latency pressor and cardioacceleratory responses were not altered by ganglionic blockade and adrenalectomy. Selective bilateral electrolytic or kainic acid lesions of the region of the PVH significantly attenuated the cardiovascular responses elicited by stimulation of the SFO. These data suggest that activation of neurons in the SFO elicit cardiovascular responses partially mediated by sympathetic outflow through a neural pathway involving the PVH.


2004 ◽  
Vol 96 (3) ◽  
pp. 1166-1169 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ramy L. Hanna ◽  
Marc P. Kaufman

The responses of group III and IV triceps surae muscle afferents to intra-arterial injection of α,β-methylene ATP (50 μg/kg) was examined in decerebrate cats. We found that this P2X3 agonist stimulated only three of 18 group III afferents but 7 of 9 group IV afferents ( P < 0.004). The three group III afferents stimulated by α,β-methylene ATP conducted impulses below 4 m/s. Pyridoxal phosphate-6-azophenyl-2′,4′-disulfonic acid, a P2-receptor antagonist, prevented the stimulation of these afferents by α,β-methylene ATP. We conclude that P2X3 agonists stimulate only the slowest conducting group III muscle afferents as well as group IV afferents.


1997 ◽  
Vol 82 (6) ◽  
pp. 1811-1817 ◽  
Author(s):  
Christine M. Adreani ◽  
Janeen M. Hill ◽  
Marc P. Kaufman

Adreani, Christine M., Janeen M. Hill, and Marc P. Kaufman.Responses of group III and IV muscle afferents to dynamic exercise. J. Appl. Physiol. 82(6): 1811–1817, 1997.—Tetanic contraction of hindlimb skeletal muscle, induced by electrical stimulation of either ventral roots or peripheral nerves, is well known to activate group III and IV afferents. Nevertheless, the effect of dynamic exercise on the discharge of these thin fiber afferents is unknown. To shed some light on this question, we recorded in decerebrate cats the discharge of 24 group III and 10 group IV afferents while the mesencephalic locomotor region (MLR) was stimulated electrically. Each of the 34 afferents had their receptive fields in the triceps surae muscles. Stimulation of the MLR for 1 min caused the triceps surae muscles to contract rhythmically, an effect induced by an α-motoneuron discharge pattern and recruitment order almost identical to that occurring during dynamic exercise. Eighteen of the 24 group III and 8 of the 10 group IV muscle afferents were stimulated by MLR stimulation. The oxygen consumption of the dynamically exercising triceps surae muscles was increased by 2.5-fold over their resting levels. We conclude that low levels of dynamic exercise stimulate group III and IV muscle afferents.


2006 ◽  
Vol 290 (6) ◽  
pp. H2239-H2246 ◽  
Author(s):  
Shawn G. Hayes ◽  
Angela E. Kindig ◽  
Marc P. Kaufman

Cyclooxygenase products accumulate in statically contracting muscles to stimulate group III and IV afferents. The role played by these products in stimulating thin fiber muscle afferents during dynamic exercise is unknown. Therefore, in decerebrated cats, we recorded the responses of 17 group III and 12 group IV triceps surae muscle afferents to dynamic exercise, evoked by stimulation of the mesencephalic locomotor region. Each afferent was tested while the muscles were freely perfused and while the circulation to the muscles was occluded. The increases in group III and IV afferent activity during dynamic exercise while the circulation to the muscles was occluded were greater than those during exercise while the muscles were freely perfused ( P < 0.01). Indomethacin (5 mg/kg iv), a cyclooxygenase blocker, reduced the responses to dynamic exercise of the group III afferents by 42% when the circulation to the triceps surae muscles was occluded ( P < 0.001) and by 29% when the circulation was not occluded ( P = 0.004). Likewise, indomethacin reduced the responses to dynamic exercise of group IV afferents by 34% when the circulation was occluded ( P < 0.001) and by 18% when the circulation was not occluded ( P = 0.026). Before indomethacin, the activity of the group IV, but not group III, afferents was significantly higher during postexercise circulatory occlusion than during rest ( P < 0.05). After indomethacin, however, group IV activity during postexercise circulatory occlusion was not significantly different from group IV activity during rest. Our data suggest that cyclooxygenase products play a role both in sensitizing group III and IV afferents during exercise and in stimulating group IV afferents during postexercise circulatory occlusion.


1988 ◽  
Vol 255 (6) ◽  
pp. H1349-H1358 ◽  
Author(s):  
J. S. Hade ◽  
S. W. Mifflin ◽  
T. S. Donta ◽  
R. B. Felder

We examined the role of the parabrachial neuronal mass in mediating the pressor response to electrical stimulation of parabrachial nucleus (PBN). In anesthetized cats, 100 mM L-glutamate (L-glu) was microinjected into PBN at sites from which low-intensity (25 microA) electrical stimulation evoked a pressor response. Arterial pressure, heart rate, and, in some animals, renal or phrenic nerve activity were monitored. Microinjection of L-glu caused an increase in arterial pressure that was comparable with that elicited by low-intensity electrical stimulation. Electrical stimulation, and to a lesser extent L-glu microinjection, caused an increase in renal sympathetic nerve activity but no significant change in heart rate. No consistent change in central respiratory drive accompanied the pressor response. These responses were preserved after baroreceptor denervation but were blocked by intravenous administration of the alpha-adrenergic receptor antagonist phentolamine. Microinjection into PBN of 2 mM kainic acid, which selectively depolarizes neurons but spares axons, reversibly blocked the arterial pressure and renal nerve responses to the 25-microA electrical stimulus. We conclude that the pressor response elicited by electrical stimulation of PBN in the anesthetized cat is mediated by cellular elements in PBN, not by fibers of passage. Because phentolamine completely blocked the pressor response, we suggest that it is subserved peripherally by sympathetic alpha-adrenergic rather than humoral (e.g., angiotensin, vasopressin) vasoconstrictor mechanisms. Finally, our data indirectly suggest that PBN stimulation may differentially engage efferent components of the sympathetic nervous system to elicit the pressor response.


1983 ◽  
Vol 244 (5) ◽  
pp. H687-H694 ◽  
Author(s):  
A. Del Bo ◽  
A. F. Sved ◽  
D. J. Reis

Electrical stimulation of the cerebellar fastigial nucleus (FN) in anesthetized, paralyzed, and artificially ventilated rat with a 10-s stimulus train (50 Hz) resulted in a stimulus-locked elevation in arterial pressure (AP) and heart rate, the fastigial pressor response (FPR). Blockade of autonomic effectors by chemosympathectomy (produced by treatment with 6-hydroxydopamine) combined with adrenalectomy, or by spinal cord transection at C1, abolished the FPR but unmasked an elevation of AP with longer latency (10-12 s) and duration (2-4 min), termed the residual FPR. The residual FPR was 1) abolished by midbrain transection, 2) blocked by administration of a specific antagonist of the vasopressor response to arginine vasopressin (AVP) [1,d(CH2)5Tyr(Me)AVP], and 3) was absent in homozygous and attenuated in heterozygous rats of the Brattleboro strain. FN stimulation elevated AVP threefold (from 13 +/- 1 to 38 +/- 8 pg/ml, P less than 0.02; n = 6) in intact rats and sevenfold in rats with combined chemosympathectomy and adrenalectomy (from 14 +/- 1 to 96 +/- 11 pg/ml, P less than 0.001; n = 9). Stimulation of the cerebellar FN can release AVP. In the absence of sympathoadrenal effectors, the amount so released is enhanced and capable of elevating AP.


1983 ◽  
Vol 55 (1) ◽  
pp. 105-112 ◽  
Author(s):  
M. P. Kaufman ◽  
J. C. Longhurst ◽  
K. J. Rybicki ◽  
J. H. Wallach ◽  
J. H. Mitchell

Static contraction of the hindlimb muscles, induced by electrical stimulation of the ventral roots, reflexly increases arterial blood pressure and heart rate. Although stimulation of groups III and IV muscle afferents is believed to cause these reflex increases, the responses of these afferents to a level of static contraction that increases arterial pressure have not yet been determined. Therefore, in barbiturate-anesthetized cats, afferent impulses arising from endings in the gastrocnemius muscle were recorded from the L7 or S1 dorsal roots, while the cut peripheral end of the L7 ventral root was stimulated. In addition, the effects of capsaicin (100-200 micrograms) and bradykinin (25 micrograms) on the activity of the groups III and IV afferents stimulated by contraction were examined. Contraction of the gastrocnemius muscle to a level equal to or greater than that needed to cause a pressor response stimulated 12 of 19 (63%) group III afferents and 13 of 19 (68%) group IV afferents. However, the discharge patterns of the group III afferents stimulated by contraction were very different from those of the group IV fibers. No relationship was found between those fibers stimulated by contraction and those stimulated by chemicals. Our results suggest that although both groups III and IV muscle afferents contribute to the reflex cardiovascular increases evoked by static exercise, group III fibers were likely to be stimulated by the mechanical effects of muscular contraction, whereas at least some group IV fibers were likely to be stimulated by the metabolic products of muscular contraction.


1984 ◽  
Vol 56 (5) ◽  
pp. 1265-1271 ◽  
Author(s):  
M. P. Kaufman ◽  
K. J. Rybicki ◽  
T. G. Waldrop ◽  
J. H. Mitchell

Although static contraction of the hindlimb muscles of anesthetized cats is known to reflexly increase arterial pressure and heart rate, the cardiovascular effects of rhythmic contractions of these muscles is unclear. To help clarify this issue, we determined, in chloralose-anesthetized cats, the effects on arterial pressure and heart rate of rhythmically contracting the hindlimb muscles at a frequency of 5 Hz. In addition, we determined the effect of rhythmic contractions on the impulse activity of group III and IV muscle afferents whose activation is known to increase cardiovascular function. We found that rhythmic contractions increased arterial pressure (from 108 +/- 8 to 134 +/- 9 mmHg; P less than 0.05) and heart rate (from 192 +/- 13 to 208 +/- 10 beats/min; P less than 0.05) in 10 cats and decreased arterial pressure (from 107 +/- 8 to 93 +/- 9 mmHg; P less than 0.05) but did not change heart rate in 9 other cats. The increases were reflex, because they were prevented by cutting the spinal roots innervating the contracting hindlimb. The decreases, however, were not reflex, because they persisted after spinal root section. The differences in the arterial pressure responses to rhythmic contractions may have been partly due to individual differences in the level of anesthesia, because in three cats the pressor responses to this maneuver were converted to depressor responses after giving the cats additional chloralose. Rhythmic contractions of the triceps surae muscles stimulated 8 of 10 group III afferents and 9 of 16 group IV afferents. We conclude that rhythmic contraction is capable of reflexly increasing cardiovascular function in cats provided that the effect is not depressed by anesthesia.


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