Depression of the recurrent inhibition of extensor motoneurons by the action of group II afferents

Abstract

The influence of varying the muscular afferent fiber input on both the normal firing rate (F n) and the amount of recurrent inhibition (F n−F i) induced by a constant ventral root stimulation was investigated on tonic extensor motoneurons recorded from ventral root filaments in decerebrate cats. The afferent input was varied by graded electrical stimulation of the gastrocnemius nerves and by vibrating the triceps surae muscle (100 μm amplitude). When the input consisted solely of impulses in Ia afferents, as was the case during vibration, the mean recurrent inhibition F n−F i was 2.3 times greater than during nerve tetanization at 1.8 times threshold of group I (T I). This strength generally excited all group I and some low-threshold group II afferents. Between 1.8 T I and 8 T I, F n−F i decreased by some 50%. The average F n increased slightly and motoneurons with a phasic discharge pattern were recruited when the stimulus strength was raised so as to excite group II afferents; these cells were never recruited during vibration and nerve tetanization at 1.8 T I. The results indicate the possibility of a disinhibitory action of secondary muscle spindle afferents on extensor motoneurons by reducing the recurrent inhibition.