scholarly journals Responses of group III and IV muscle afferents to dynamic exercise

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.


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.


1999 ◽  
Vol 87 (2) ◽  
pp. 545-553 ◽  
Author(s):  
Philippe Haouzi ◽  
Janeen M. Hill ◽  
Brock K. Lewis ◽  
Marc P. Kaufman

This study was undertaken to test the hypothesis that group III and IV afferents with endings in skeletal muscle signal the distension of the peripheral vascular network. The responses of these slowly conducting afferents to pharmacologically induced vasodilation and to acute obstruction of the venous drainage of the hindlimbs were studied in barbiturate-anesthetized cats. Afferent impulses arising from endings in the triceps surae muscles were recorded from the L7 and S1 dorsal roots. Fifteen of the 48 group IV and 3 of the 19 group III afferents tested were stimulated by intra-aortic injections of papaverine (2–2.5 mg/kg). Sixty-two percent of the afferents that responded to papaverine also responded to isoproterenol (50 μg/kg). Seven of the 36 group IV and 2 of the 12 group III afferents tested were excited by acute distension of the hindlimb venous system. Four of the seven group IV afferents responding to venous distension also responded to papaverine (57 vs. 13% for the nonresponding). Finally, we observed that most of the group IV afferents that were excited by dynamic contractions of the triceps surae muscles also responded either to venous distension or to vasodilatory agents. These results are consistent with the histological findings that a large number of group IV endings have their receptive fields close to the venules and suggest that they can be stimulated by the deformation of these vascular structures when peripheral conductance increases. Moreover, such a mechanism offers the possibility of encoding both the effects of muscle contraction through intramuscular pressure changes and the distension of the venular system, thereby monitoring the activity of the veno-muscular pump.


1994 ◽  
Vol 71 (2) ◽  
pp. 753-760 ◽  
Author(s):  
J. G. Pickar ◽  
J. M. Hill ◽  
M. P. Kaufman

1. In decerebrate cats, we investigated the responses of group III muscle afferents to dynamic exercise. The cats performed low intensity dynamic exercise on a treadmill. Group III afferent activity from the dynamically exercising triceps surae muscles was recorded from L7-S1 dorsal root filaments. 2. Single-unit recordings were obtained from 15 group III afferent fibers whose receptive fields were in the triceps surae muscles and from one group III afferent whose receptive field was in the flexor digitorum longus muscle. Conduction velocities for the 16 group III afferents ranged from 3.0 to 27.9 m/s (15.6 +/- 1.9 m/s, mean +/- SE). 3. Ten of 16 group III muscle afferents were stimulated by dynamic exercise. Of the 10, 7 were strongly responsive and 3 were mildly responsive to dynamic exercise. Each of the 10 afferents displayed at least some activity that was synchronized to the contraction phase of the step cycle. The mean developed tensions for strongly responsive afferents, mildly responsive afferents, and afferents that did not respond were 0.8 +/- 0.3, 1.3 +/- 0.5, and 0.7 +/- 0.3 Kg, respectively (P > 0.05). Thus differences in the responsiveness of the afferents to exercise were not attributable to differences in developed tensions. 4. The group III afferents that were strongly responsive to dynamic exercise were also mechanically sensitive. Each strongly responsive afferent (n = 7) was stimulated by nonnoxious pressure applied to its receptive field. Most strongly responsive afferents (n = 5) were stimulated by stretch of the triceps surae muscles.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)


1998 ◽  
Vol 84 (6) ◽  
pp. 1827-1833 ◽  
Author(s):  
Christine M. Adreani ◽  
Marc P. Kaufman

Our laboratory has shown previously that a low level of dynamic exercise induced by electrical stimulation of the mesencephalic locomotor region (MLR) stimulated group III and IV muscle afferents in decerebrate unanesthetized cats (C. M. Adreani, J. M. Hill, and M. P. Kaufman. J. Appl. Physiol. 83: 1811–1817, 1997). In the present study, we have extended these findings by examining the effect of occluding the arterial supply to the dynamically exercising muscles on the afferents’ responses to MLR stimulation. In decerebrate cats, we found that arterial occlusion increased the responsiveness to a low level of dynamic exercise in 44% of the group III and 47% of the group IV afferents tested. Occlusion, compared with the freely perfused state, did not increase the concentrations of either hydrogen ion or lactate ion in the venous effluent from the exercising muscles. We conclude that arterial occlusion caused some unspecified substance to accumulate in the working muscles to increase the sensitivity of equal percentages of group III and IV afferents to dynamic exercise.


1993 ◽  
Vol 69 (4) ◽  
pp. 1053-1059 ◽  
Author(s):  
L. I. Sinoway ◽  
J. M. Hill ◽  
J. G. Pickar ◽  
M. P. Kaufman

1. In barbiturate-anesthetized cats we examined the interaction of lactic acid and static contraction on the discharge of group III muscle afferents. Only afferents whose receptive fields were located in the triceps surae muscles were studied. 2. Twelve of 20 afferents were stimulated by a 60-s static contraction. The majority of firing occurred within the first few seconds of contraction. Thirteen of 20 afferents were stimulated by femoral arterial injections of 24 mM lactic acid (1-4 ml) with the muscle at rest. Repeated injections of lactic acid with the muscle at rest led to tachyphylaxis. Lactic acid was then injected (24 mM; 4 ml) during the last 15 s of static contraction. In eight of nine afferents that were tachyphylactic to lactic acid with the muscle at rest, we noted a restored sensitivity to lactic acid during contraction. 3. In separate experiments we examined the effects of dichloroacetate (DCA) on the responses of group III muscle afferents to static contraction. DCA reduces the production of lactic acid by increasing levels of the active form of the enzyme pyruvate dehydrogenase. 4. DCA lowered arterial and venous lactate concentrations at rest and during contraction. DCA significantly decreased (31%; P < 0.05) the responses of the afferents to contraction. This effect was most prominent within the first 10 s of contraction and was not due to a reduced level of mechanical stimulation after DCA, because peak tension levels were the same during the two bouts of contraction.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)


1986 ◽  
Vol 55 (4) ◽  
pp. 635-643 ◽  
Author(s):  
P. Grigg ◽  
H. G. Schaible ◽  
R. F. Schmidt

Recordings were performed from sciatic nerve or dorsal root filaments in 28 cats to study single group III (conduction velocity 2.5-20 m/s) and group IV (conduction velocity less than 2.5 m/s) units supplying the knee joint via the posterior articular nerve (PAN). In seven of these cats the knee joint had been inflamed artificially. Recordings from sciatic nerve filaments revealed responses to local mechanical stimulation of the joint in only 3 of 41 group IV units and in 12 of 18 group III units from the normal joint. In the inflamed joint 14 of 36 group IV units and 24 of 36 group III units were excited with local mechanical stimulation. In recordings from dorsal root filaments (normal joint) 4 of 11 group IV units and 7 of 13 group III units were activated by stimulating the joint locally. In the normal joint four group IV units (recorded from dorsal root filaments) responded only to rotations against the resistance of the tissue, whereas the majority of the fibers did not respond even to forceful movements. Group III units with local mechanosensitivity in the normal joint reacted strongly or weakly to movements in the working range of the joint or only to movements against resistance of the tissue. In the inflamed joint, group IV fibers (recorded in sciatic nerve filaments) with detectable receptive fields responded strongly to gentle movements or only to movements against resistance of tissue. Some did not react to movements. Group III units reacted strongly or weakly to gentle movements or only to movements against resistance of the tissue.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)


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.


2002 ◽  
Vol 92 (4) ◽  
pp. 1628-1634 ◽  
Author(s):  
Shawn G. Hayes ◽  
Marc P. Kaufman

Although mesencephalic locomotor region (MLR) stimulation and the exercise pressor reflex have been shown to increase whole nerve renal sympathetic activity, it is not known whether these mechanisms converge onto the same population of renal sympathetic postganglionic efferents. In decerebrate cats, we examined the responses of single renal sympathetic postganglionic efferents to stimulation of the MLR and the exercise pressor reflex (i.e., static contraction of the triceps surae muscles). We found that, in most instances (24 of 28 fibers), either MLR stimulation or the muscle reflex, but not both, increased the discharge of renal postganglionic sympathetic efferents. In addition, we found that renal sympathetic efferents that responded to static contraction while the muscles were freely perfused responded more vigorously to static contraction during circulatory arrest. Moreover, stretch of the calcaneal (Achilles) tendon stimulated the same renal sympathetic efferents as did static contraction. These findings suggest that MLR stimulation and the exercise pressor reflex do not converge onto the same renal sympathetic postganglionic efferents.


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