Autogenetic reflex action in tibialis anterior compared with that in soleus muscle in the decerebrate cat

The regulatory actions of autogenetic reflex pathways on the mechanical properties of an ankle flexor (tibialis anterior) and an extensor (soleus) in the premammillary decerebrate cat were studied. The two muscle were isolated in the same cat and each was stretched during its separate activation. The yield in stiffness shown by areflexive muscles during stretch was largely compensated for in tibialis anterior as well as in soleus by reflex action. Resultant (total) stiffness varied by less than a factor of two over a wide range of contractile forces in the two muscles. Further, resultant stiffness increased as stretch amplitude decreased in both muscles, but the variation was less for TA. In most preparations, the resultant stiffness in soleus was significantly larger than the resultant stiffness of tibialis anterior. It is concluded that autogenetic reflexes govern the mechanical properties of both flexors and extensors. In addition, the extensor bias in the decerebrate preparation is due not only to greater activation in extensors but to a greater resultant stiffness as well.

Velocity sensitivity of yielding during stretch in the cat soleus muscle

Yielding of muscle force occurs when a muscle is stretched by a sufficiently large amount. A higher velocity of stretch requires a larger stretch to cause yielding, and the preyield stiffness is constant. The yield is attributed to cross-bridge disengagement and the velocity sensitivity to a mechanical filtering of this event.

The action of puromycin and cycloheximide on the initiation of rapid axonal transport in amphibian dorsal root neurones

1. Amphibian dorsal root ganglia-sciatic nerve preparations were incubated in vitro and the rapid axonal transport of radioactive labels was studied with a position-sensitive detector and by conventional liquid scintillation analysis. Protein was labelled by exposure of the ganglia to [(35)S]methionine or [(3)H]leucine and lipid was labelled using [(32)P]orthophosphoric acid.2. Protein synthesis was interrupted by exposure of the ganglia to either cycloheximide or puromycin. When ganglia were exposed to either inhibitor prior to or simultaneously with a label, the somal export of both protein and lipid to the axon was reduced by two to three orders of magnitude.3. Using the position-sensitive detector, [(35)S]methionine was observed to be exported from the ninth dorsal root ganglia of Rana catesbiana 3.49+/-1.56 h (+/- S.D.) after exposure, and [(32)P]phosphate 4.46+/-1.85 h after exposure.4. Export of [(35)S]methionine or [(32)P]phosphate was disrupted 3.32+/-1.21 h (+/- S.D.) or 1.93+/-1.04 h respectively after exposure of the ganglia to cycloheximide or puromycin.5. For a given preparation the time required for [(35)S]methionine to be exported was statistically equal to the time required for cycloheximide or puromycin to disrupt export. No such correlation was found to exist for the export of [(32)P]phosphate.6. Analysis revealed that materials labelled with either [(35)S]methionine or [(32)P]phosphate continue to be exported from the ganglia for several hours after the initial disruption in outflow caused by the inhibitors.7. The results do not provide support for the hypothesis of Ambron, Goldman & Schwartz (1975) that a ;key' newly synthesized, and non-storable, polypeptide is added to an already assembled structure to allow rapid axonal transport to be initiated.

Rapid orthograde transport of 32P-labelled material in amphibian sensory axons: a multiwire proportional chamber study

A multiwire proportional chamber was used to follow the axonal transport of material labelled with [32P]orthophosphate in dorsal root ganglion (DRG)--sciatic nerve preparations of Xenopus laevis and Rana catesbiana. The DRG were exposed to label for a period of 4 h following which there was a period of continued delivery of labelled material to the nerve for up to 18 h. The front of the labelled material in the nerve moved at a velocity of 160--170 mm/24 h at room temperature (22.5--23.5 degrees C). Sectioning the nerve at a proximal position showed that labelled material behind the front moved at a similar rapid velocity. Experiments in which the nerve was sectioned showed that some of the rapidly transported label appeared to be deposited into a relatively stationary phase. Extrapolation of the results indicated that the delay between the presentation of the label to the DRG and the onset of the transport of labelled material in the nerve was 4--6 h. The rapid transport of the label was inhibited by vinblastine sulphate at concentrations of 130--950 microM. Most of the rapidly transported material was found to be in a chloroform-methanol extractable form. In conclusion, 32P labels materials whose transport dynamics are very similar to those observed when [35S]methionine is used as the precursor.

Spinal reflexes as a basis for tremor in the premammillary cat

A maintained tremor observed in premammillary cats has been studied by varying the load attached to the soleus muscle, by electrical recording, and stimulation. The frequency and amplitude of the tremor varies widely with changes in elastic or inertial loading (springs or flywheels). These variations agree well with predictions based on the idea that the tremor is maintained by relfexes reinforcing a tendency for oscillation in a mass-spring system (which includes the elasticity of the muscle). Spinal stretch reflexes are probably responsible since a relatively fixed delay of 8.5 +/- 2.9 ms is observed between the peaks of recorded afferent and electromyographic activity. Stimulation of the lateral gastrocnemius--soleus nerve completely resets the tremor, again suggesting a reflex origin.

Stable long-term recordings from cat peripheral nerves

A procedure has been developed for the stable long-term recording of nerve signals in unanesthetized mammals, which should have wide application in basic research on the nervous system and also in clinical areas such as the derivation of control signals for powered prostheses. Methods are fully described for constructing devices consisting of (1) Silastic nerve cuffs containing three or more electrodes, (2) coiled leads insulated with Silastic which extend from the cuffs to an integrated circuit socket, (3) a vitreous carbon transcutaneous connector which surrounds the integrated circuit socket and makes a good interface with the skin. Neural activity has been recorded from mammalian nerves for many months during normal behaviour. The peak-to-peak amplitude and latency of the recorded compound action potentials remain stable and may continue at a constant level more or less indefinitely. A tripolar recording configuration between a central lead and the two end leads, which are connected together, permits good rejection of EMG signals from surrounding muscles. The amplitude of single unit potentials increases as the square of the conduction velocity of the nerve fibre. Thus, the largest nerve fibres will dominate the signals recorded during behaviour. The reasons for premature termination of a few experiments are given together with methods for overcoming these problems. For example, platinum-iridium electrodes remain relatively stable, whereas silver wires tend to fracture after being in an animal for several months. This and other relationships are discussed which permit an optimal design of nerve cuffs for a given recording situation.

Improvement in linearity and regulation of stiffness that results from actions of stretch reflex

We studied stretch reflexes of soleus muscles of intercollicularly decerebrated cats using a new technique for estimating the component of a stretch reflex that results from the purely mechanical properties of the active muscle (mechanical response). The difference between a net stretch reflex and its underlying mechanical response provided a direct measure of reflex action. 1. The relative contributions of reflex action and the mechanical response are different for stretch and release. With stretch, reflex action is generally large and the mechanical response small. The opposite is true with release. The property that remains relatively constant, when stretch and release are compared, is the net stiffness in opposition to length change. We concluded that reflex action compensates for variations in the inherent stiffness of the muscle. 2. Compensation is effective over a range of intermediate values of initial force, but it fails whenever the reflex force approaches zero or the maximal force at that length. 3. Reflex action is capable of modifying muscular force within 22 ms of the onset of length change. This indicates that even during a fast gallop, there is sufficient time for reflex action. 4. The mechanical properties of the active soleus muscle are highly nonlinear; e.g., muscular stiffness becomes negative transiently during stretch. In stable decerebrate preparations we found that reflex action resulted in a considerable improvement in linearity. 5. Our results support two complementary hypotheses: a) stiffness may be the regulated property of the stretch reflex, and b) the main function of autogenetic reflexes may be to conpensate for variations in the properties of skeletal muscle rather than to oppose changes in load.

Principles underlying new methods for chronic neural recording

Chronic recording is possible from nerve fibers which have grown through holes in an insulating medium (regeneration electrodes) or which are enclosed by an insulating sheath (cuff electrodes). Use of three electrodes in a balanced configuration permits good rejection of electromyographic (EMG) signals and other sources of electrical interference (fluorescent lights, 60 Hz signals from the mains, etc.). Equations are derived and tested for predicting the amplitude and form of the signals expected for a given cuff length and diameter. These equations can be used to design electrode units optimally for a given application. Finally, the use of transformers permits the neural signals to be carefully matched to the recording apparatus and further optimizes the neural signal-to-noise and signal-to-EMG ratios. Use of these methods in several physiological and clinical applications, as well as potential abuses, are discussed.

Reflex compensation for variations in the mechanical properties of a muscle

Soleus muscles of anesthetized cats were stretched and released by different amounts while their motor axons were stimulated. Muscle force increased, then gave way in response to large stretch. In the presence of active stretch reflexes in decerebrate cats, the give in force was absent. We demonstrate that autogenetic reflexes can compensate for variations in muscular stiffness revealed when responses to stretch and release are compared.