Activation Of Gamma-motoneurones Research Articles

Decreased Succinate Dehydrogenase Activity of Gamma and Alpha Motoneurons in Mouse Spinal Cords Following 13 Weeks of Exposure to Microgravity

Cell body size and succinate dehydrogenase activity of motoneurons in the dorsolateral region of the ventral horn in the lumbar and cervical segments of the mouse spinal cord were assessed after long-term exposure to microgravity and compared with those of ground-based controls. Mice were housed in a mouse drawer system on the International Space Station for 13 weeks. The mice were transported to the International Space Station by the Space Shuttle Discovery and returned to Earth by the Space Shuttle Atlantis. No changes in the cell body size of motoneurons were observed in either segment after exposure to microgravity, but succinate dehydrogenase activity of small-sized (<300 μm(2)) gamma and medium-sized (300-700 μm(2)) alpha motoneurons, which have higher succinate dehydrogenase activity than large-sized (>700 μm(2)) alpha motoneurons, in both segments was lower than that of ground-based controls. We concluded that exposure to microgravity for longer than 3 months induced decreased succinate dehydrogenase activity of both gamma and slow-type alpha motoneurons. In particular, the decreased succinate dehydrogenase activity of gamma motoneurons was observed only after long-term exposure to microgravity.

Mechanisms of baclofen action on spasticity.

This investigation estimated the mechanisms of baclofen action on spasticity using a battery of electromyographic methods. Thirty patients with old post-stroke spastic hemiparesis took part in the investigation. They were treated with baclofen-mean daily dose 54.3 alpha 11.6 mg for a mean of 26.3 alpha 4.9 days. A questionnaire for assessment of subjective improvement after treatment used a 5-point scale. For standardization of the neurological examination 5-point scales were used to assess muscle tone, muscle force and tendon reflexes. A battery of electromyographic methods was used to analyse different mechanisms of spasticity: for alpha motoneurone activity--the F wave parameters; for gamma motoneurone activity--the T/H reflex amplitude ratio; for presynaptic inhibition--the ratio of H reflex amplitudes before and after vibration on the achilles tendon (Hvibr./Hmax); for common interneurone activity--the flexor reflex parameters. Our results revealed that baclofen reduces spastically increased muscle tone and Babinski sign. It has no influence on muscle force, tendon reflexes and ankle clonus. Baclofen acts by normalizing the altered interneurone activity and decreasing of alpha motoneurone activity. When spasticity has altered interneurone activity and increased motoneurone activity, it is better to treat with baclofen.

Vestibular inputs do not influence the fusimotor system in relaxed muscles of the human leg

Descending vestibular pathways have been shown to influence recruitment thresholds of alpha motoneurones in both human and cat. However, whereas parallel connections to the fusimotor system have been shown in the cat, such connections have not yet been demonstrated in humans. In the present study we investigated whether vestibular inputs can influence the firing of spontaneously active muscle spindles in the leg via activation of gamma motoneurones. Unitary recordings were made from 30 muscle spindle afferents via tungsten microelectrodes inserted percutaneously into the common peroneal nerve of seated awake human subjects. Sinusoidal bipolar binaural galvanic vestibular stimulation (GVS; frequency 0.2, 0.5, 0.8 Hz, amplitude +/-2 mA, 100 cycles) was applied to the mastoid processes. This continuous stimulation produced a sustained frequency-dependent illusion of "rocking in a boat" or "swinging in a hammock". Despite these robust illusions none of the spontaneously active muscle spindles exhibited phase-locked modulation of firing during sinusoidal GVS. We conclude that this dynamic vestibular input was not sufficient to recruit gamma motoneurones, which are known to have little spontaneous activity in relaxed human muscles.

Effects of effort and EMG levels on short-latency stretch reflex modulation after varying background muscle contractions

It is known that the short-latency stretch reflex (SLSR) is modulated by the background muscle activity when it is elicited at matched torque levels. This study was designed to examine the effects of muscle contraction types before a stretch perturbation on SLSR in the human soleus muscle (SOL) when SLSR was elicited at the same levels of effort and at matched electromyographic (EMG) activity levels. A mechanical stretch perturbation was applied to the calf muscles when the ankle joint reached a ninety degree tibio-tarsal joint angle after the muscles performed an isometric (pre-ISO), shortening (pre-SHO) and lengthening contraction (pre-LEN). Subjects were seated on an ankle ergometer chair and developed 0%, 10%, 20%, 30%, 40%, 50%, 60% and 70% ankle joint torque (AJT) of maximum voluntary isometric plantar flexion contraction at 80° in pre-SHO, at 90° in pre-ISO and at 100° in pre-LEN. After that, isometric or dynamic contractions started, and the subjects were asked to maintain effort levels as, needed, to maintain the target torque levels until the end of the stretch. They relaxed their muscles fully after the stretch. This chain of processes was consecutively repeated 10 times. EMG signals obtained from SOL were averaged after they were high-pass filtered and full-wave rectified. Some major findings resulted: (1) there were no differences in SLSR area in the active muscle between pre-ISO and pre-SHO, whereas its waveform was steeper in pre-ISO than in pre-SHO. (2) SLSR p-to-p amplitude and waveform were larger and steeper in the active muscle than in the relaxed one in all conditions, whereas they were independent of the effort levels once the muscle was activated. This led to steady SLSR modulation in response to the background muscle contraction in the active muscle regardless of whether the SLSR was elicited at matched AJT or EMG activity levels. These findings suggest that SLSR is closely related to the muscle spindle sensitivity influenced by the following factors: (1) the background muscle contraction type, and (2) gamma motoneuron activity set by CNS based on the effort level.

Static gamma-motoneurones couple group Ia and II afferents of single muscle spindles in anaesthetised and decerebrate cats.

Ideas about the functions of static gamma-motoneurones are based on the responses of primary and secondary endings to electrical stimulation of single static gamma-axons, usually at high frequencies. We compared these effects with the actions of spontaneously active gamma-motoneurones. In anaesthetised cats, afferents and efferents were recorded in intramuscular nerve branches to single muscle spindles. The occurrence of gamma-spikes, identified by a spike shape recognition system, was linked to video-taped contractions of type-identified intrafusal fibres in the dissected muscle spindles. When some static gamma-motoneurones were active at low frequency (< 15 Hz) they coupled the firing of group Ia and II afferents. Activity of other static gamma-motoneurones which tensed the intrafusal fibres appeared to enhance this effect. Under these conditions the secondary ending responded at shorter latency than the primary ending. In another series of experiments on decerebrate cats, responses of primary and secondary endings of single muscle spindles to activation of gamma-motoneurones by natural stimuli were compared with their responses to electrical stimulation of single gamma-axons supplying the same spindle. Electrical stimulation mimicked the natural actions of gamma-motoneurones on either the primary or the secondary ending, but not on both together. However, gamma-activity evoked by natural stimuli coupled the firing of afferents with the muscle at constant length, and also when it was stretched. Analysis showed that the timing and tightness of this coupling determined the degree of summation of excitatory postsynaptic potentials (EPSPs) evoked by each afferent in alpha-motoneurones and interneurones contacted by terminals of both endings, and thus the degree of facilitation of reflex actions of group II afferents.

New observations on coupling between group II muscle afferents and feline gamma-motoneurones.

1. Extra- or intracellular recordings were made from seventy-six gamma-motoneurones of hindlimb muscles in chloralose anaesthetized cats to re-assess the coupling between secondary muscle spindle afferents (group II muscle afferents) and these neurones. The latencies of a number of responses evoked by group II muscle afferents in gamma-motoneurones were shorter than minimal latencies of responses induced disynaptically in other spinal neurones. These latencies are therefore compatible with monosynaptic coupling between muscle spindle secondaries and gamma-motoneurones. 2. Responses fulfilling criteria for monosynaptically evoked responses were seen in about one third of gamma-motoneurones with input from the group II muscle afferents tested (in 6 of 18 motoneurones recorded intracellularly and in 26 of 74 motoneurones recorded extracellularly). They were usually evoked from only one of the stimulated nerves, stimulation of group II afferents of other nerves being followed by responses at longer latencies. 3. Most gamma-motoneurones were excited by group II afferents from several muscles, both flexors and extensors. However, a comparison of group II input to gamma-motoneurones innervating medial gastrocnemius and four other hindlimb muscles revealed differences in both incidence and sources. 4. This study extends results of previous studies by providing evidence that some synaptic actions of group II afferents, including afferents from the same muscle, are evoked monosynaptically, and may assist in sustaining the activation of gamma-motoneurones by positive feedback.

Muscle damping measured with a modified pendulum test in patients with fibromyalgia, lumbago, and cervical syndrome.

Muscle tension with tenderness may be localized or generalized as in fibromyalgia. Wartenberg's pendulum test might be appropriate for quantitating muscle damping, at least in generalized cases. Damping values provide a quantitative measure of muscle tension and of the response to various treatments. According to recent anatomic and experimental works, intrafusal muscle fibers are double-innervated by gamma motoneurons and sympathetic fibers. With electromyograph recording, the activity of extrafusal fibers and gamma motoneurons (reflexes) can be assessed and separated from the action of the sympathetic system. An electrogoniometer registers the movements of the freely swinging leg. On the oscilloscope, the patient's nodular curve is compared with an ideal calculated dampened curve to find the damping value. Electromyograph surface electrodes from the knee extensors and flexors detect the activity of extrafusal fibers and the occurrence of reflexes. In longstanding severe fibromyalgia, damping values are almost always elevated, at least in one leg. Half or more of patients with chronic lumbago and cervical syndrome present with increased damping. The surface electromyograph remains silent (in contrast to spastic patients). The findings support the hypothesis that muscle tension in rheumatic patients results from overactivity of the sympathetic system (or part of it). Even in clinically localized pain syndromes, muscle damping is often increased in the legs. The test is valuable for quantitating muscle tension and the effectiveness of therapeutic methods.

Task-dependent modulation of short- and long-latency electromyographic responses in upper limb muscles

Records were made of electromyographic (EMG) responses of both upper limb muscles and the corresponding elbow joint movements following sinusoidal (0.3 Hz) isometric displacement of the elbow joint itslef. Two motor conditions were tested. Firstly, the subjects had to control elbow position and secondly control joint torque. Randomly timed, flexing or extending ramp impulses were induced at different displacement velocities and amplitudes. Following long duration displacements (> 100 msec) the recorded EMG responses could clearly be separated into 3 different components (M1−M3). The M1 component was of constant duration by M3 corresponded to the duration of the ramp displacement. It is proposed that the M1 component is “coded” by the acceleration signal and the M3 component by the velocity signal. Only the shape of the M2 component was dependent upon the actual motor condition. With the subjects controlling the elbow joint angle the M2 components in the arm flexor and extensor EMG responses exhibited a peak whose rate of rise was dependent on displacement velocity. However, when elbow torque was controlled by the subjects the M2 component exhibited a plateau whose amplitude was dependent on displacement velocity. The amplitude of the M2 component was significantly larger during position-control than during torque-control. We propose that the difference in the behaviour of the EMG responses may be achieved by the appropriate central regulation of gamma-motoneurone activity or, alternatively, by selective modulation of different receptor inputs between the two tasks.

Activation of fusimotor neurones by motor cortical stimulation in human subjects.

1. Neural recordings were made from motor fascicles of the ulnar or radial nerves while the motor cortex was stimulated percutaneously using high-voltage electrical stimuli or transient magnetic pulses to determine whether human muscle spindle endings could be activated by such stimuli and, if so, whether this occurred before the recruitment of alpha-motoneurones. 2. In relaxed subjects, no evidence of muscle spindle activation could be detected in nine recordings of multiunit neural activity and four recordings from single spindle afferents using stimulus levels up to 600 V and 1.5 T. These levels produced a prominent twitch contraction of the intrinsic muscles of the hand and of forearm muscles. Passive stretch of the contracting muscle did not reveal a fusimotor action too weak to be detected under isometric circumstances. 3. With twenty-six single spindle afferents, the stimuli were delivered during a voluntary contraction of the receptor-bearing muscle. This served to 'focus' the effects of the stimulus on the relevant motoneurone pools and increased the probability that fusimotor neurones innervating the endings were active. 4. None of the twenty-six spindle afferents could be activated by stimuli subthreshold for alpha-motoneurones, even when the stimuli were delivered during passive stretch of the contracting muscle. With eighteen afferents, stimuli above threshold for alpha-motoneurones were delivered: twelve remained unaffected but the discharge of six altered. 5. Three afferents were activated at latencies of 35, 39 and 40 ms, respectively 16, 20 and 20 ms after the onset of the EMG potentials in the receptor-bearing muscles. This latency difference is too short to be attributable to activation of gamma-motoneurones: arguments are presented that the increase in spindle discharge could result from activation of beta-motoneurones. 6. The discharge of three afferents increased at latencies of 70, 75 and 85 ms, too early to be due to stretch on the falling phase of the twitch contraction of the receptor-bearing muscle. Responses at these latencies could involve activation of gamma- or beta-motoneurones. 7. These findings in human subjects suggest that transient stimulation of the motor cortex may effectively access fusimotor neurones.

Effects of subcoeruleus stimulation on gamma motoneuron activity : Haruhiko Sato, Takeshi Hashitani, Yoshiaki Isobe, Fujiya Furuyama, and Hitoo Nishino, 2nd Department of Physiology, School of Medicine, 1, aza-kawasumi, Mizuho-cho, Mizuho-ku, Nagoya 467, Japan

Effects of subcoeruleus stimulation on gamma motoneuron activity : Haruhiko Sato, Takeshi Hashitani, Yoshiaki Isobe, Fujiya Furuyama, and Hitoo Nishino, 2nd Department of Physiology, School of Medicine, 1, aza-kawasumi, Mizuho-cho, Mizuho-ku, Nagoya 467, Japan

Gamma‐motoneurone discharge patterns during fictive locomotion in the decerebrate cat

Triceps surae gamma-motoneurones were recorded during fictive locomotion in the paralysed high decerebrate cat. Two distinctive patterns of discharge were observed which were similar to those reported for static and dynamic gamma-motoneurones during locomotion in the same preparation, but without paralysis (Murphy, Stein & Taylor, 1984). These results suggest that movement-related afferent feedback is not essential for the generation of the basic patterns of static and dynamic gamma-motoneurone activity during locomotion. The results are discussed in relation to the generation of alpha and gamma locomotor rhythms.

Reflex pathways from group II muscle afferents. 3. Secondary spindle afferents and the FRA: a new hypothesis.

A hypothesis is forwarded regarding the role of secondary spindle afferents and the FRA (flexor reflex afferents) in motor control. The hypothesis is based on evidence (cf. Lundberg et al. 1987a, b) summarized in 9 introductory paragraphs. Group II excitation. It is postulated that subsets of excitatory group II interneurones (transmitting disynaptic group II excitation to motoneurones) may be used by the brain to mediate motor commands. It is assumed that the brain selects subsets of interneurones with convergence of secondary afferents from muscles whose activity is required for the movement. During movements depending on coactivation of static gamma-motoneurones impulses in secondary afferents may servo-control transmission to alpha-motoneurones at an interneuronal level. The large group II unitary EPSPs in interneurones are taken to indicate that, given an adequate interneuronal excitability, impulses in single secondary afferents may fire the interneurone and produce EPSPs in motoneurones; interneuronal transmission would then be equivalent to that in a monosynaptic pathway but with impulses from different muscles combining into one line. It is postulated that impulses in the FRA are evoked by the active movements and that the role of the multisensory convergence from the FRA onto the group II interneurones is to provide the high background excitability which allows the secondary spindle afferents to operate as outlined above. The working hypothesis is put forward that a movement governed by the excitatory group II interneurones is initiated by descending activation of these interneurones, but is maintained in a later phase by the combined effect of FRA activity evoked by the movement and by spindle secondaries activated by descending activation of static gamma-motoneurones. As in the original "follow up length servo" hypothesis (Rossi 1927; Merton 1953), we assume that a movement at least in a certain phase can be governed from the brain solely or mainly via static gamma-motoneurones. However, our hypothesis implies that the excitatory group II reflex connexions have a strength which does not allow transmission to motoneurones at rest and that the increase in the gain of transmission during an active movement is supplied by the movement itself. Group II inhibition. It is suggested that the inhibitory reflex pathways like the excitatory ones have subsets of interneurones with limited group II convergence. When higher centres utilize a subset of excitatory group II interneurones to evoke a given movement, there may mobilize inhibitory subsets to inhibit muscles not required in the movement.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 400 WORDS)

Activity of spindle afferents from cat anterior thigh muscles. III. Effects of external stimuli.

Chronically implanted electrodes were used to record the activity of identified single muscle spindle afferents in awake cats during responses to various types of manual and electrical stimulation. During vigorous cyclical responses such as shaking and scratching, spindle afferents generally maintained at least some activity during both lengthening and shortening of the parent muscle, indicating that the programs for these movements include both extra- and intrafusal recruitment. During noncyclical responses such as ipsilateral limb withdrawal and crossed-extension, spindle activity was modest and poorly correlated with extrafusal activity. Weak cutaneous nerve shocks during walking elicited complex excitatory and inhibitory phase-dependent reflexes in the various muscles studied but caused relatively little change in spindle afferent activity, indicating a lack of correlation between alpha and gamma motoneuron activity. A primary and a secondary afferent from sartorius muscle were recorded simultaneously during walking cycles that were perturbed by electrically induced twitches of the antagonist hamstring muscles; both demonstrated highly sensitive, short latency responses to the resulting skeletal motion, consistent with their previously suggested roles in detecting small brief mechanical perturbations. The degree to which fusimotor responses were correlated with extrafusal responses to somatosensory perturbations was highly dependent on the specific nature of the stimulus and the response. Fusimotor reprogramming of the spindle sensitivity appears to be a feature of cyclical movements that are presumably under proprioceptive control, whereas brief perturbations within the context of a particular motor program may be ignored by the fusimotor system.

Activity of spindle afferents from cat anterior thigh muscles. II. Effects of fusimotor blockade.

Chronically implanted electrodes and nerve cuff catheters were used to record the activity of individual muscle spindle afferents during treadmill walking as low doses of lidocaine were infused around the femoral nerve to progressively block gamma motoneuron activity. Both primary and secondary endings from both the monarticular knee extensors and the biarticular hip/knee muscles of the anterior thigh showed large decreases in afferent activity, usually well before changes in the electromyographic activity, force output, or length and velocity were seen in the parent muscles. This decline in the proprioceptive signal feeding back onto the spinal cord, which we presume to have involved most of the spindles supplied by the femoral nerve, did not cause noticeable irregularities or instability of the walking gait. At the peak of the fusimotor blockade, spindle afferents from knee extensor muscles lost about half of their usually brisk activity during the near-isometric contraction of the stance phase. Significant decreases in the response to passive stretch during the flexion phase also occurred. At the peak of the fusimotor blockade, spindle afferents from the biarticular muscles lost all of their activity during the rapidly shortening swing phase and about half of their activity during the rapidly lengthening stance phase. For both monarticular and biarticular muscle spindles, the activity decreases in stance and swing phase often occurred at distinctly different stages of the progressive fusimotor blockade, indicating several different sources of fusimotor control. From these data, we infer that the sensitivity of most spindle afferents is substantially influenced by fusimotor activity during phases of both extrafusal activity and extrafusal silence. At least some of this influence appears to come from fusimotor neurons whose recruitment is independent of the extrafusal recruitment. The extent and type of fusimotor effects on spindle afferent sensitivity (dynamic or static) appear to be specialized for the mechanical events that tend to occur during those phases.

Central and peripheral causes of hyperreflexia in humans breathing 5% trimix at 650 m.

To clarify the mechanism of increased stretch reflex responsiveness in deep divers (hyperbaric hyperreflexia), comparative studies of stretch (T) and Hoffmann (H) reflexes were done on three men breathing 5% N2-0.5 bar O2-balance He at pressures up to 650 m of seawater (msw) (Atlantis IV simulated dive, F.G. Hall Laboratory, Duke Medical Center). Electromyography revealed increases at depth of up to 160% in the T reflex recruitment ratio (T reflex/Mmax) compared with surface controls. The H reflex recruitment ratio (Hmax/Mmax) did not change significantly. It is concluded that hyperbaric hyperreflexia is mainly due to increased muscle spindle sensitivity, presumably arising as a central effect on gamma-motoneuron activity. However, a purely peripheral effect of pressure on the spindle end-organ itself is not ruled out. Increases of 100-200% in muscle twitch peak force are reported and provide evidence that pressure can act directly on peripheral physiology. Postreflex clonic potentials (rebounds) during voluntary plantar flexion were significantly increased both in amplitude and number, leading to sustained clonus in one subject. In this respect, 5% N2 was less effective than 10% N2 of Atlantis III in controlling underdamping of the reflex loop. Conversely, the twitch contraction rate and clonic frequency in this study were only half as slowed compared with results from the earlier dive.

Electrophysiological studies on the specific benzodiazepine antagonist Ro 15-1788.

This is an electrophysiological study in cats and rats of the imidazobenzodiazepinone derivative, Ro 15-1788, the first representative of specific benzodiazepine antagonists. (1) In unanaesthetized spinal cats, 1-10 mg kg-1 Ro 15-1788 i.v. did not affect segmental dorsal root potentials (DRPs), polysynaptic ventral root reflexes (VRRs), Renshaw cell responses to antidromic ventral root volleys and spontaneous gamma-motoneurone activity. However, at 1 mg kg-1 i.v., it antagonized the enhancement of DRPs as well as the depression of polysynaptic VRRs, Renshaw cell discharges and gamma-motoneurone activity induced by meclonazepam (0.1 mg kg-1 i.v.), diazepam (0.3 mg kg-1 i.v.) or zopiclone (1 mg kg-1 i.v.). The same dose of Ro 15-1788 failed to reduce similar effects of phenobarbital (10 mg kg-1 i.v.) on spinal cord activities. (2)In unanaesthetized "encéphale isole" rats, 3 mg kg-1 Ro 15-1788 i.v. abolished the decrease induced by 5 mg kg-1 midazolam i.v. of spontaneous multiunit activity (MUA) in the substantia nigra pars compacta, nucleus raphé dorsalis, nucleus locus coeruleus and the CAl area of the hippocampus dorsalis, but not the decrease produced by 10mg kg-1 pentobarbital i.v. Ro 15-1788 (12mg kg-1 i.v.) by itself did not affect MUA in the substantia nigra, but slightly depressed MUA in the other 3 areas. (3) In intact immobilized rats, the increase of power induced by 1 mg kg-1 flunitrazepam i.v. in the 0.5-48 Hz range of the electrocorticogram as well as in the 0.5-8 Hz, 8-32 Hz and 32-48 Hz frequency bands was transiently abolished by 5 mg kg-1 Ro 15-1788 i.v. (4) In unrestrained cats, 5 mg kg-1 Ro 15-1788 i.p. had no effect on the electrical threshold for eliciting a rage reaction evoked by electric hypothalamic stimulation, but abolished the threshold increase caused by 1 mg kg-1 diazepam i.p. These results are in line with biochemical and behavioural findings and support the selective antagonism by Ro 15-1788 of central effects of benzodiazepines through an interaction at benzodiazepine receptors.

新向精神作用薬，CS-430の中枢神経系におよぼす影響

In rats and rabbits with chronically implanted electrodes CS-430(10-bromo-2, 3, 7, 11b-tetrahydro--11b-(2-fluorophenyl)-oxazolo(3, 2d) [1, 4]benzodiazepine-6(5H)-one) (3 mg/kg, .o.) decreased the slightly awake period and increased the slow-wave sleep period. The onset time of sleep was significantly shortened. In the rat pre-treated with p-chlorophenylalaine (500 mg/kg, p.o.), the awake period was remarkable increased and the slow wave sleep period was considerably decreased at 48 hours after the pre-treatment. In these rats CS-430 given in the same dose decreased significantly the awake peiod and the onset time of sleep and increased the slow wave sleep period. CS-430 raised the threshold of the arousal response with stimulation of the posterior hypothalamus, but not of the mesencephalic reticular formation. These effects of CS-430 were almost as potent as those of nitrazepam (NZP). CS-430 reduced duration of after-discharges following stimulation of the hippocampus, depressed the decerebrate rigidity and inhibited activity of lumbar gamma-motoneurons in anesthetized cats. CS-430 (10 mg/kg, p.o.) inhibited the evoked responses recorded from the proreus gyrus following stimulation of either the baso-magnocellularis of the amygdaloid nuclear or the ventral hippocampus, although such did not inhibit the responses between the olfactory bulb and the pyriform cortex, the thalamus and the sensory-motor cortex. Thus CS-430 has a sleep-inducing effect in animals of almost the same potency as is seen with NZP, and site(s) of the action in the limbic system appear to be specific.

Harmaline-induced rhythmic activity of alpha and gamma motoneurons in the cat

Harmaline-induced rhythmic activity of alpha and gamma motoneurons in the cat

Drug-induced experimental Parkinsonism

The effect of the major tranquillizers on the electromyogram (EMG) has been studied in acute and chronic experiments on unanaesthetised rats, rabbits and cats, to see if extrapyramidal disturbances resembling those obtained with these drugs in man could be detected. Phenothiazine derivatives (chlorpromazine, trifluoperazine, thioproperazine, prochlorperazine and acepromazine) produced no significant stimulation of the EMG over a wide dose range, but reserpine caused a reproducible dose-dependent increase in the EMG activity of rats which was accompanied by observable rigidity. This increased activity was reduced by centrally acting drugs like mephenesin and thiopentone and also by anti-muscarinic agents. It is possible that reserpine-induced rigidity in rats could form the basis of a quantitative assessment of the activity of anti-Parkinson drugs of the anti-muscarinic type, and may provide a suitable screening method for such anti-Parkinson drugs. Reserpine rigidity, which could not be produced in decerebrate animals, was associated with increased alpha but reduced gamma motoneurone activity.

Neurophysiology of Movement. (Book Reviews: The Basis of Motor Control. Integrating the Activity of Muscles, Alpha and Gamma Motoneurons and Their Leading Control Systems)

Neurophysiology of Movement. (Book Reviews: The Basis of Motor Control. Integrating the Activity of Muscles, Alpha and Gamma Motoneurons and Their Leading Control Systems)