Spike discharges of skeletomotor neurons during random noise modulated transmembrane current stimulation and muscle stretch

 Spike discharges of skeletomotor neurons innervating triceps surae muscles elicited by white noise modulated transmembrane current stimulation and muscle stretch were studied in decerebrated cats. The white noise modulated current intensity ranged from 4.3 to 63.2 nA peak-to-peak, while muscle stretches ranged from 100 μm to 4.26 mm peak-to-peak. The neuronal responses were studied by averaging the muscle length records centered at the skeletomotor action potentials (peri-spike average, PSA) and by Wiener analysis. Skeletomotor spikes appeared after a sharp peak in PSA of the injected current, preceded by a longer-lasting smaller wavelet of either depolarizing or hyperpolarizing direction. The PSA amplitude was not related to the injected current amplitude nor showed any differences related to the motor unit type. The PSA amplitudes were virtually independent of the stretching amplitude σ, after an initial increase with stretching amplitudes in the range of 15–40 μm (S.D.), or 100–270 μm peak-to-peak.Analyses of cross-spectra indicated a small or absent increase in gain with frequency in response to injected current, but about 20 dB/decade in the range 10–100 Hz in response to muscle stretch. The peaks of both Wiener kernels in response to current injection appear to decrease with the amplitude of injected current, but this decrease was not statistically significant. The narrow first-order kernels suggest that the transfer function between the current input and spike discharge is lowpass with a wide passband, i.e. there is very little change in dynamics. The values of the second-order kernels appear to be nonzero only along the main diagonal. This is characteristic of a simple Hammerstein type cascade, i.e. a zero memory nonlinearity followed by a linear system. Small values of second-order kernels away from the origin and narrow first-order kernels suggest that the linear cascade contributes very little to the overall dynamic response.In contrast to Wiener kernels found in response to current injection, the Wiener kernels in response to stretch showed a decreasing trend with stretch amplitude. The size of the second-order kernels decreased to a somewhat larger extent with input amplitude than that of the first-order kernels, indicating an amplitude-dependent nonlinearity. Overall, the transformation between length and spike output was described as an LNNL cascade with second-order nonlinearities. Received: 1 April 1993/Accepted in revised form: 24 March 1994     

Membrane potential changes of skeletomotor neurons in response to random stretches of the triceps surae muscles in decerebrate cats

 The properties of membrane potential changes of skeletomotor neurons (S, FR, and FF) innervating triceps surae muscles during pseudorandom stretching of these muscles were studied in decerebrate cats. Peak amplitudes of pseudorandom muscle stretches ranged from 119 μm to 4.15 mm peak-to-peak. Sequences of ten identical stretching periods were applied for averaging. Shapes of membrane potential changes and probability density distribution of amplitudes of the input and output signals and power spectra suggest that the skeletomotor neuron membrane has nonlinear properties. First- and second-order Wiener kernels were determined by applying the cross-correlation (Lee-Schetzen) method. The results suggest that the transfer function between muscle stretches and subthreshold membrane potentials is a Wiener-type cascade. This cascade is consistent with a linear, second-order, underdamped transfer function followed by a simple quadratic nonlinearity [linear (L) system followed by nonlinear (N) system, or LN cascade]. Including the nonlinear component calculated from the second-order Wiener kernel improved the model significantly over its linear counterpart, especially in S-type motoneurons. Qualitatively similar results were obtained with all types of motoneurons studied. Received: 1 April 1993/Accepted in revised form: 24 March 1994     

The electrical activity of mechanoreceptive and neurosecretory neurons in the stick insectCarausim morosus

Summary Action potentials have been recorded from the neurosecretory cells which lie on the link nerve inCarausius morosus. The neurosecretory cells are spontaneously active in completely isolated preparations, firing with a regular but low frequency (<1 imp/s) or in small bursts (12 imp/s). The action potentials recorded extracellularly from the neurosecretory fibres are characteristically of long duration (2 to 10 ms), whereas those of motor or sensory fibres are of shorter duration (0.6 to 0.8 ms). The neurosecretory action potentials are also characterised by their slow conduction velocity (0.15 to 0.25 m/s) compared to those from motor and sensory fibres (0.54 to 0.7 m/s). The action potentials are propagated from the region of the cell body towards the terminals and have been recorded passing along all the major nerves in the periphery.Recordings from three of the non-neurosecretory cells which lie on peripheral nerves show that they respond to stretching of the nerves upon which they lie or of nerves which branch in the immediate vicinity. The action potentials are propagated away from the cell body towards the central nervous system. The neurons are termed peripheral nerve stretch receptors.We are grateful to the Science Research Council for financial support.     

Observations on phase-locking within the response of primary muscle spindle afferents to pseudo-random stretch

In order to uncover encoder properties of primary muscle spindle afferent fibers, time coupling (phase-locking) of action potentials on cyclic muscle stretch was studied by means of pseudo-random noise. In cats Ia action potentials were recorded from dorsal root filaments and the gastrocnemius muscles of one hind leg were stretched. The stimulus time course was a determined sequence of randomly varying muscle length which could be applied repeatedly (sequence duration 0.6 or 20 s). The noise amplitude (standard deviation of displacements) was varied between 5 and 300 m, the upper cut-off frequency of noise f _c was varied between 20 and 100 Hz. The responses to the consecutive pseudo-random noise cycles were displayed as raster diagrams and cycle histograms. Phaselocking characterized the responses at all noise amplitudes outside the near threshold range (>10 m). The higher and f _c , the stronger was the phase-locking of impulses on the stretch. When and f _c were selected to achieve high mean stretch velocities of about 500 mm/s, phase-locking was as precise as 0.15 ms, measured as the variability of spike occurrences with respect to stretch. The rasters obtained with low noise amplitudes (<40 m) showed a loose phase-locking and this gave insight into underlying mechanisms: The elicitation of action potentials caused by dynamic stretch can be prevented by a post-spike depression of excitability. This disfacilitation was very effective in counteracting weak stretch components within the random sequence and less effective or even missing when relatively strong stretch components could force the spike elicitation. This led to the reestablishment of phase-locked patterns. The results were discussed in relation to the known encoder models.     

Reciprocal inhibition studied in discharging human motor units

The effect of excitation of group Ia afferents, evoked by stimulation of a mixed nerve, on the firing pattern of voluntarily activated single motor units of an antagonist muscle (biceps femoris, triceps surae, and tibialis anterior muscles) was studied. Poststimulus histograms were constructed for rhythmic sequences of motor unit potentials recorded by needle electrodes and the duration of interspike intervals was analyzed. Reciprocal inhibition and other effects accompanying nerve stimulation were discovered in the motoneurons of all three muscles. Distinguishing features of the manifestation of reciprocal inhibition in a discharging motoneuron were investigated; the effect was shown to depend on the time of occurrence of the inhibitory action in the interspike interval.Institute for Problems in Information Transmission, Academy of Sciences of the USSR, Moscow. Translated from Neirofiziologiya, Vol. 10, No. 6, pp. 626–636, November–December, 1978.     

Different fusimotor reflexes from the ipsi- and contralateral hind limbs of the cat assessed in the same primary muscle spindle afferents

Experiments were performed in forty-five cats anaesthetized with alpha-chloralose. The aim of the study was to investigate a sample of primary muscle spindle afferents from triceps muscle with respect to their fusimotor reflex control from ipsi- as well as contralateral hind limb. Primary muscle spindle afferents of the triceps surae muscle were recorded from the mean rate of firing and the modulation of the afferent response to sinusoidal stretching of the triceps surae muscle was determined. Test measurements were made during tonic stretch of the ipsilateral PBSt, contralateral PBSt, contralateral triceps muscle or during extension of the intact contralateral hind limb. Control measurements were made with ipsi- and contralateral PBSt as well as contralateral triceps muscles relaxed and with contralateral hind limb in resting position. The occurrence and types of fusimotor effects were assessed by comparing test to control responses. The main finding of the present investigation was the great variability in type and size of the fusimotor effects evoked by different ipsi- and contralateral reflex stimuli. Both ipsi- and contralateral stimulations gave rise to predominantly dynamic, predominantly static or mixed static and dynamic fusimotor reflexes. In the same preparation, a given reflex stimulus often caused different reflex responses in different triceps surae primary spindle afferents. In the same afferent unit, different reflex stimuli usually produced fusimotor effects which differed from each other in type and/or size. In general, contralateral whole limb extension and stretch of contralateral PBSt muscles were more potent as reflex stimuli than stretch of the ipsilateral PBSt muscle. Stretch of the contralateral triceps surae muscle was, but for a few afferent units, ineffective as reflexogenic stimulus. It is concluded that the individualized receptive profiles of the primary muscle spindle afferents, which have been postulated in earlier investigations where the effects of different stimuli have been investigated on different cell populations, still seems to hold good when the stimuli are tested on the same units. The individuality of the receptive profiles of gamma-motoneurones is discussed in relation to different motor control hypotheses.     

Evidence for coexistence of ATP and nitric oxide in non-adrenergic,non-cholinergic (NANC) inhibitory neurones in the rat ileum,colon and anococcygeus muscle

The possible coexistence of the two non-adrenergic, non-cholinergic (NANC) inhibitory neurotransmitters, adenosine 5-triphosphate and nitric oxide in the myenteric plexus was investigated using whole-mount preparations of rat ileum, proximal colon and anococcygeus muscle. The presence of adenosine 5-triphosphate in neurones was examined using the quinacrine fluorescence technique. After localizing and taking photographs of quinacrine-fluorescent neurones and nerve fibres, the same tissues were then fixed and processed for NADPH-diaphorase activity, a marker for nitric oxide-containing neurones. We have demonstrated for the first time that almost all quinacrine-fluorescent myenteric neurones in the proximal colon are also NADPH-diaphorase reactive, while only a subpopulation of quinacrine-fluorescent neurones in ileum and anococcygeus muscle were also NADPH-diaphorase reactive.     

Testing excitability in human firing motoneurons during the interspike interval

Monosynaptic testing of excitability in firing triceps surae muscle motoneurons activated during volitional contraction was performed using a technique for recording potentials from single motor units and by producing H-reflex. Motoneuronal excitability was assessed according to level of firing index. Motoneuronal firing index decreased during transition from a low background rhythmic firing rate of less than 6 spikes/sec to one of 6–8 spikes/sec. It hardly changed with a further rise in rate to 12 spikes/sec. The dependence between firing index and spike rate are put down to changes occurring in motoneuronal excitability during the interspike interval. Findings indicate that in the low frequency range of motoneuronal firing characteristic of natural muscle contraction, discharge rate may be considered one of the factors determining excitability in the motoneuron and hence its transmission qualities.Institute of Problems in Information Transmission, Academy of Sciences of the USSR. Translated from Neirofiziologiya, Vol. 19, No. 2, pp. 210–216, March–April, 1987.     

Voluntary finger movement in man: Cerebral potentials and theory

Three different brain potentials preceeding voluntary rapid finger flexion can be recorded from the skull surface by time reversed averaging. The early cortical activity preceding unilateral movement is bilateral and widespread (Bereitschaftspotential, BP). The same applies for the second potential (pre-motion positivity, PMP). Only the third potential (motor potential, MP) is unilateral and restricted to the contralateral motor cortex. In a total of 87 experiments with 39 subjects, the BP started on the average 750 ms (SD 360, SE 38.5) prior to rapid finger flexion. Its largest amplitude was found mid-parietally and averaged-5.3 V (SD 2.32, SE 0.4). Such amplitudes were found with averages of 800 and more movements per experiment. However, at the beginning of an experiment the BP is larger. Preceding finger movement, the BP was found bilaterally over the parietal and precentral cortex and over the midline. Over the frontal cortex, either no potential or positivity was recorded. In normal subjects, the BP always begins bilaterally and symmetrically. At parietal leads, it remains bilaterally-symmetrical. A slight contralateral preponderance begins about 400 ms prior to movement only over motor cortex, which becomes statistically significant at 150 ms. When comparing the parietal BP amplitude with the precentral amplitude on the ipsilateral side, where no superposition of the MP occurs, there is more negativity parietally than precentrally, although the parietal skull is about 11% thicker than the precentral. The BP is a negative shift of the cortical DC potential probably representing a preparatory process in the dendritic network of those cortical areas that are involved in the intended movement.The PMP is the next potential occurring 90–80 ms ( , SD 34.2, SE 2.95) prior to the first action potential in the contracting muscle (EMG). It was found in 85% of our subjects. The PMP has at its maximum, mid-parietally, a mean amplitude of +1.7 V (SD 1.6, SE 0.28). Like the BP, the PMP is bilateral and widespread in parietal and precentral leads of both sides and in the midline with a maximum at the anterior parietal region, despite the parietal skull being thicker than precentral. The short and the relatively constant onset time suggests that the PMP might reflect cortical activity (motor command) related to initiation of the tactually guided rapid finger movement under study.The MP starting 60–50 ms ( , SD 19.4, SE 3.1) prior to first activity in the agonist EMG is the last potential to occur and is the only unilateral potential: its localisation is limited to the hand area of the motor cortex contralateral to the moving finger. In bipolar recordings, contralateral versus ipsilateral precentral or contralateral precentral versus vertex, it appears as a sharp additional negativity. This additional negativity averaged-1.3 V (SD 0.64, SE 0.08). The MP reflects the motor cortical activity immediately preceding the movement.After movement onset, a complex potential is recorded, that is also seen with passive finger movement, largely representing a somatosensory (proprioceptive) evoked response. The possible meaning of the movement-related potentials is discussed in relation to a theory of central motor function.Supported by the Deutsche ForschungsgemeinschaftHabilitationsschrift of L.D. submitted to the Faculty of Clinical Medicine, University of Ulm (1974)     

Role of Potassium Channels in Facilitation of Transmitter Release from Frog Motor Nerve Ending (Electrophysiology and Mathematical Simulation)

In experiments on neuromuscular junctions in the frog m. thoraco-cutaneous, we studied changes in the transmitter release and shape of the nerve ending (NE) response related to high-frequency (10 or 50 sec^-1) rhythmic stimulation of the motor nerve; an extracellular recording technique was used. At a low extracellular Ca²⁺ concentration, rhythmic stimulation resulted in a gradual increase in the quantum content of end-plate currents, i.e., in facilitation. Simultaneously, the third (positive) phase of the NE response became smaller, the amplitude of the second (negative) phase of this response also decreased, while the duration of this phase increased. Modifications of the NE response upon stimulation with a 10 sec^-1 frequency were more clearly expressed than those at 50 sec^-1 stimulation. In Ca²⁺-free solutions, rhythmic stimulation was accompanied by analogous modifications of the shape of NE responses, and the dynamics of these changes were the same at both the above-mentioned stimulation frequencies. When 0.5-1.0 mM tetraethylammonium was applied, 10 sec^-1 stimulation was accompanied by no facilitation of transmitter release; at 50 sec^-1 stimulation, this phenomenon was observed but was weaker than in the control, and the shape of NE responses underwent only mild changes. Simulation of electrogenesis in the studied structure showed that modifications of the NE response shape related to rhythmic 10 sec^-1 stimulation can develop in the case of a gradual decrease in the voltage-dependent potassium membrane conductivity, which results in prolongation of the de- and repolarization phases of action potentials and increases in the amplitude and duration of the inward calcium current. At higher stimulation frequencies (50 sec^-1), this mechanism is accompanied by a gradual increase in the Ca²⁺-dependent potassium conductivity, due to an increase in the intracellular Ca²⁺ concentration. These data allow us to conclude that the intensity of facilitation of transmitter release from the frog motor NE is related not only to accumulation of residual calcium, but also to changes of presynaptic calcium current due to modification of the kinetics of functioning of the potassium channels.     

The role of proprioception for motor learning in locust flight

In a muscle-specific flight simulator (simulator driven by muscle action potentials) locusts (Locusta migratoria) show motor learning by which steering performance of the closed-loop muscles is improved. The role of proprioceptive feedback for this motor learning has been studied. Closed-loop muscles were cut in order to disable proprioceptive feedback of their contractions. Since there are no proprioceptors within the muscles, this is a muscle-specific deafferentation. Cut muscles are still activated during flight and their action potentials can be used for controlling the flight simulator. With cut muscles in closed-loop, steering is less reliable as can be seen from the frequent oscillations of the yaw angle. However, periods of stable flight indicate that deafferented muscles are still, in principle, functional for steering. Open-loop yaw stimuli reveal that steering reactions in cut muscles are weaker and have a longer delay than intact muscles. This is responsible for the oscillations observed in closed-loop flight. Intact muscles can take over from cut muscles in order to re-establish stable closed-loop flight. This shows that proprioceptive mechanisms for learning are muscle specific. A hypothetical scheme is presented to explain the role of proprioception for motor learning.     

Electrical and mechanical responses of chromatophore muscle fibers of the squid,Loligo opalescens,to nerve stimulation and drugs

Summary The muscle fibers of brown and red chromatophores in the skin of the squid, Loligo opalescens, respond to motor nerve stimulation with non-propagating excitatory postsynaptic potentials (e.p.s.p.'s) of fluctuating amplitude. Depending on the strength of stimulation several size classes of e.p.s.p.'s are found, indicating polyneuronal innervation. Facilitation and summation are minimal even though the reversal potential of the e.p.s.p.'s is close to zero.Acetylcholine (ACh) and 5-hydroxytryptamine (5-HT) have no effect on membrane characteristics of the muscle fiber, but ACh greatly augments the spontaneous quantal release of transmitter [increase in the frequency of miniature postsynaptic potentials (m.p.s.p.'s)] and thereby causes tonic contraction (miniature tetanus). 5-HT reduces the frequency of miniature potentials and abolishes tonic contraction. Inhibition of cholinesterase by eserine does not affect the amplitude or time course of e.p.s.p.'s and of m.p.s.p.'s. High concentrations of cholinergic blocking agents (atropine, banthine) reduce the postsynaptic effects of nerve stimulation in some cases. The natural transmitter substance of the motoneurones may not be ACh. The action of 5-HT appears to be intracellular.Neighboring muscle fibers are electrically coupled through low resistance pathways. These are most likely provided by the close junctions that form part of the myo-muscular junctions. The specific membrane resistance of the regular muscle fiber membrane was found to range from 1,056 to 1,320 Ohm×cm², that of the close junctions ranges from 12.8 to 22.6 Ohm×cm². The area occupied by close junctions is small, however, and only 10% of the current injected into one cell passes into the next. Some of the e.p.s.p.'s observed in a given muscle fiber most likely represent the electrotonic spread of the e.p.s.p.'s of the neighbor fibers. Of the six classes of e.p.s.p.'s observed in some muscle fibers, only two may originate in these fibers themselves.Chromatophores in aged preparations often exhibit pulsations. These are caused by spike potentials arising within muscle fibers whose membranes have become electrically excitable. Each spike is preceded by a generator depolarization. The electrical coupling of neighboring muscle cells permits conduction of the spike potentials throughout the set of muscle fibers of a pulsating chromatophore. Altered conditions within such preparations also lead to tonic contractions and contractures that are not necessarily accompanied by electrical activity. Several arguments are presented in support of the hypothesis that the tonic condition of nerve terminals (characterized by enhanced spontaneous transmitter release) and of muscle fibers (characterized by inability to relax) is due to an abnormal condition of intracellular calcium (lack of Ca-binding by sarcoplasmic reticulum or other storage sites).No evidence could be found for an inhibitory innervation of the chromatophore muscles. The nerve-induced relaxation of tonically contracted muscle fibers is caused by the action of motoneurones.Preliminary experiments on muscle fibers of the anterior byssus retractor muscle of Mytilus support the hypothesis that the tonic behavior (catch) of other molluscan muscles is due to mechanisms similar to those found in the chromatophore muscles.This investigation was supported by Public Health Service Grant No. NB 04145 from the National Institute of Neurological Diseases and Blindness. We are grateful to the director of the Friday Harbor Laboratories, Prof. R. L. Fernald for providing space and facilities for this investigation.Supported by a Training Grant GM 1194 from the National Institute of General Medical Sciences.     

Responses of group III and IV muscle afferents to dynamic exercise

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 peripheralnerves, is well known to activate group III and IV afferents.Nevertheless, the effect of dynamic exercise on the discharge of thesethin 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) wasstimulated electrically. Each of the 34 afferents had their receptivefields in the triceps surae muscles. Stimulation of the MLR for 1 min caused the triceps surae muscles to contract rhythmically, an effectinduced by an -motoneuron discharge pattern and recruitment orderalmost identical to that occurring during dynamic exercise. Eighteen ofthe 24 group III and 8 of the 10 group IV muscle afferents werestimulated by MLR stimulation. The oxygen consumption of thedynamically exercising triceps surae muscles was increased by 2.5-foldover their resting levels. We conclude that low levels of dynamicexercise stimulate group III and IV muscle afferents.

     

Peripheral generation and modulation of crustacean motor axon activity at high temperatures

Summary We have examined the effects of temperature changes on the stretcher muscle and its motor supply in a crab (Pachygrapsus crassipes). An increase in temperature caused a decrease in the amplitude of evoked excitatory junctional potentials (ejp's). Above a critical threshold a single action potential in the excitor (E) or specific inhibitor (SI) axon provoked multiple spikes in the appropriate axon and concomitant ejp's or inhibitory junctional potentials (ijp's) in the stretcher muscle fibers. The critical temperature for generation of peripheral spikes was dependent upon the crab's thermal history.In preparations in which a shock to the E axon evoked repetitive firing, stimulation of the SI axon at about the same time as the E axon abolished or curtailed the peripherally generated E axon responses. No reciprocal modulation of SI activity by the E axon was observed. GABA abolished the peripheral generation of E spikes and picrotoxin prevented SI modulation of E activity. We suggest that the site of SI modulation is at the axo-axonal synapses, possibly at the fine E axon branches and the bottlenecks along the E axon where inhibitory synapses have been observed.Abbreviations CI common inhibitor (axon) - E excitor (axon) - ejp excitatory junctional potential - ijp inhibitory junctional potential - SI specific inhibitor axon This work was supported by grants awarded to Dr. Atwood from the National Research Council of Canada and the Muscular Dystrophy Association of Canada.     

The singularly perturbed Hodgkin-Huxley equations as a tool for the analysis of repetitive nerve activity

A qualitative analysis of the Hodgkin-Huxley model (Hodgkin and Huxley 1952), which closely mimics the ionic processes at a real nerve membrane, is performed by means of a singular perturbation theory. This was achieved by introducing a perturbation parameter that, if decreased, speeds up the fast variables of the Hodgkin-Huxley equations (membrane potential and sodium activation), whereas it does not affect the slow variables (sodium inactivation and potassium activation). In the most extreme case, if the perturbation parameter is set to zero, the original four-dimensional system degenerates to a system with only two differential equations. This degenerate system is easier to analyze and much more intuitive than the original Hodgkin-Huxley equations. It shows, like the original model, an infinite train of action potentials if stimulated by an input current in a suitable range. Additionally, explanations for the increased sensitivity to depolarizing current steps that precedes an action potential can be found by analysis of the degenerate system. Using the theory of Mishchenko and Rozov (1980) it is shown that the degenerate system does not only represent a simplification of the original Hodgkin-Huxley equations but also gives a valid approximation of the original model at least for stimulating currents that are constant within a suitable range.     

Reflex effect of skeletal muscle mechanoreceptor stimulation on the cardiovascular system

To determine the potential for mechanical stimulation of skeletal muscle to contribute to the reflex cardiovascular response to static contraction (exercise reflex), we examined the cardiovascular effects caused by either passive stretch or external pressure applied to the triceps surae muscles. First, the triceps surae were stretched to an average developed tension of 4.8 +/- 0.3 kg. This resulted in increases in mean arterial pressure (MAP) of 28 +/- 7 mmHg, dP/dt of 1,060 +/- 676 mmHg/s, and heart rate (HR) of 6 +/- 2 beats/min (P less than 0.05). Additionally, increments of 0.3, 0.5, 1.0, 2.0, 4.0, and 8.0 kg of tension produced by passive stretch elicited pressor responses of -6 +/- 1, 7 +/- 1, 16 +/- 3, 21 +/- 8, 28 +/- 6, and 54 +/- 9 mmHg, respectively. External pressure, applied with a cuff to the triceps surae to produce intramuscular pressures (125-300 mmHg) that were similar to those seen during static contraction, also elicited small increases in MAP (4 +/- 1 to 10 +/- 1 mmHg) but did not alter HR. Transection of dorsal roots L5-L7 and S1 abolished the responses to passive stretch and external pressure. Moreover, when the triceps surae were stretched passively to produce a pattern and amount of tension similar to that seen during static hindlimb contraction, a significant reflex cardiovascular response occurred. During this maneuver, the pressor response averaged 51% of that seen during contraction.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)     

Muscle mechanosensitive reflex is suppressed in the conscious condition: effect of anesthesia.

To test the hypothesis that a muscle mechanosensitive reflex is suppressed in the conscious condition, we examined the effect of anesthesia on the cardiovascular responses to passive mechanical stretch of the hindlimb triceps surae muscle in six conscious cats. The triceps surae muscle was manually stretched for 30 s by extending the hip and knee joints and subsequently by dorsiflexing the ankle joint; the lateral gastrocnemius muscle was lengthened by 19 +/- 2.6 mm. Heart rate (HR) and mean arterial blood pressure (MAP) did not change significantly during passive stretch of the muscle in the conscious condition. At 10-40 min after intravenously administering pentobarbital sodium (20-25 mg/kg), the identical passive stretch of the triceps surae muscle was able to induce the cardiovascular responses; HR and MAP were increased by 14 +/- 1.3 beats/min and 14 +/- 1.4 mmHg, respectively, and the cardiovascular responses were sustained throughout the passive stretch. In contrast, stretching skin on the triceps surae muscle evoked no significant changes in HR and MAP in the anesthetized condition. When anesthesia became light 40-90 min after injection of pentobarbital and the animals started to show spontaneous body movement, the cardiovascular response to passive muscle stretch tended to be blunted again. It is therefore concluded that passive mechanical stretch of skeletal muscle is capable of evoking the reflex cardiovascular response, which is suppressed in the conscious condition but exaggerated by anesthesia.     

Anion channels from rat brain synaptosomal membranes incorporated into planar bilayers

Summary Synaptic membranes from rat brain were incorporated into planar lipid bilayers, and the characteristics of two types of anion-selective channels (type I and type II) were investigated. In asymmetric BaCl₂ buffers (cis, 100mm/trans, 25mm), single channel conductances at –40 mV were 70 pS (type I) and 120 pS (type II). Permeability ratios (P _Na:P _Ba:P _Cl) calculated from the Goldman-Hodgkin-Katz current equation for type I and type II channels were 0.230.041 and 0.050.031, respectively. Both channels exhibited characteristic voltage-dependent bursting activities. Open probability for type I channels had a maximum of 0.7 at about 0 mV and decreased to zero at greater transmembrane potentials of either polarity. Type II channels were relatively voltage independent at negative voltages and were inactivated at highly positive voltages. Type I channels showed spontaneous irreversible inactivation often preceded by sudden transition to subconducting states. DIDS blocked type I channels only from thecis side, while it blocked type II channels from either side.     

Activity of fusimotor neurons during reflex muscle contraction

The influence of fusimotor activity via the gamma-loop on reflex responses of motoneurons to stretch or vibration stimulation of mm. triceps surae was studied in decerebrate cats. Action potentials of single fusimotor neurons were derived from thin filaments isolated from nerves innervating this muscle group, leaving their main nerve supply intact. Most fusimotor neurons tested were found to be coactivated with motor units during reflex muscle contraction. In the initial period of development of reflex muscle contraction a weak autogenetic inhibitory effect on discharge of fusimotor neurons was found. The results suggest that reduction of the reflex motor signal, leading to a "silent period," is partly the result of a transient decrease in the fusimotor output effect on contracting muscles. A study of changes in fusimotor discharge generation during the ascending phase of reflex muscle contraction may provide data useful for identification of autogenetic reflex influences on these motoneurons and for elucidating the conditions necessary for servoassistance of muscle contractions.Medical Research Institute, Belgrade, Yugoslavia. Translated from Neirofiziologiya, Vol. 16, No. 5, pp. 630–637, September–October, 1984.     

Ionic bases of action potentials in identified flatworm neurones

Summary The ionic bases for generation of action potentials in three types of identified multimodal neurones of the brain ofNotoplana acticola, a polyclad flatworm, were studied. The action potentials were generated spontaneously, in response to water-borne vibrations, or by intracellularly injected current pulses. At least three components comprise the depolarizing excitable phase of the action potentials: (a) a rapidly inactivating TTXsensitive Na⁺ component (Fig. 2); (b) a Ca⁺⁺ component that is unmasked by intracellular TEA⁺ (Figs. 4, 6, 7); (c) a TTX-resistant Na⁺ component (Fig. 8). Two K⁺ currents appear to account for the repolarization phase of the action potentials: (a) a rapid K⁺ current that is blocked by intracellular TEA⁺ (Figs. 4, 7, 8) and (b) a Ca⁺⁺ -activated K⁺ conductance that is blocked by Ca⁺⁺ and Ba⁺⁺ (Fig. 6). Ionic mechanisms in the generation of action potentials in the central multimodal neurones ofNotoplana pharmacologically resemble those in higher metazoans.Abbreviations TTX tetrodotoxin - TEA ⁺ tetraethylammonium ion - LY lucifer yellow - HRP horseradish peroxidase - BRA bilaterally reciprocally arrayed neurons - SC single contralaterally projecting - SIC single ipsilaterally and contralaterally projecting neurons - HAP hyperpolarizing after potential - AHP after hyperpolarization - EGTA ethyleneglycol-bis-(-amino-ethyl ester) N,N-tetra-acetic acid