Eye velocity responsiveness and its proprioceptive component in the floccular Purkinje cells of the alert pigmented rabbit

Summary Eye velocity responsiveness of floccular Purkinje cells was studied in alert, pigmented rabbits. Conjugate horizontal eye nystagmus was elicited by application of electric pulse trains (10–50 A, 30 c/s) to the optic tract through chronically implanted electrodes. Purkinje cells were sampled with an extracellular microelectrode from the flocculus, and their involvement in different oculomotor functions was specified by electrical stimulation at their recording sites. At those sites where abduction of the ipsilateral eye was elicited, the discharge frequency of simple spikes usually increased during slow eye movement to the ipsilateral side and decreased during eye movement to the contralateral side in nystagmus and after-nystagmus. Within a limited range, the discharge frequency increased linearly with eye velocity, at an average rate of 1.6 impulse s^–1/degree s^–1. An opposite directional specificity (decrease in ipsilateral and increase in contralateral eye movement) and directional nonspecificity were common at other floccular sites where local stimulation elicited downward or no eye movement. Retrobulbar anesthesia of proprioceptive afferents from one eye reduced the eye velocity responsiveness of Purkinje cells in the ipsilateral flocculus by 31%, but did not affect their responsiveness in the contralateral flocculus. These observations indicate that eye velocity input to the rabbit flocculus arises partly from peripheral receptors but mainly from the central oculomotor system, and that responsiveness of Purkinje cells to the input is organized specifically according to their functional involvement.This work was supported by a grant from the Japanese Ministry of Education, Science and Culture (57770092)     

The energetics of middle-distance running

Summary In order to assess the relative contribution of aerobic processes to running velocity (v), 27 male athletes were selected on the basis of their middle-distance performances over 800, 1500, 3000 or 5000 m, during the 1987 track season. To be selected for study, the average running velocity corresponding to their performances had to be superior to 90% of the best French of the season. Maximum O₂ consumption and energy cost of running (C) had been measured within the 2 months preceding the track season, which, together with oxygen consumption at rest allowed us to calculate the maximalv that could be sustained under aerobic conditions: . The treadmill runningv corresponding to a blood lactate of 4 mmol·^–1 (v _la4), was also calculated. In the whole group, C was significantly related to height (r=–0.43;P<0.03). Neither C nor (with, in this case, the exception of the 3000 m athletes) were correlated to . On the other hand,v _{a max} was significantly correlated to over distances longer than 800 m. These were also correlated tov _la4. Howeverv _la4 occurred at 87.5% SD 3.3% ofv _{a max}, this relationship was interpreted as being an expression of the correlation betweenv _{a max} and . Calculation ofv _{a max} provided a useful means of analysing the performances. At the level of achievement studied, sustained over 3000 m corresponded tov _{a max}. The shape of the relationship ofv/v _{a max} as a function of the duration of the event raised the question of a possible change in C as a function of v during middle-distance running competitions.     

Delayed responses to electrical stimuli reflect C-fiber responsiveness in human microneurography

The slowing of impulse conduction during the relative refractory period has often been used to assess activation of C-fibers, in particular, in human microneurography. This study aimed to evaluate the sensitivity of this method and the factors affecting it. Thirty cutaneous C-fibers were recorded from the peroneal nerves of healthy human subjects. Intracutaneous electrical stimulation in the receptive field at 4 s intervals, after some minutes of adaptation, induced spike discharges at constant latency. One or more conditioning stimulus pulses were interpolated at different intervals and the increase in latency after the subsequent regular pulse was assessed. The latency shift was found to depend on the number of interposed pulses, on the time interval between conditioning and conditioned stimulus, and on the conduction velocity of the C-unit. The increase in latency was larger with greater distance between stimulating and recording electrodes, indicating a contribution of the conductile membrane over its whole length. On the other hand, slowing was more pronounced, on average, in slower conducting C-units and conduction velocities were slower when recordings were performed more distally. These findings indicate that the slower terminal nerve branches contribute most to the latency increases. Even a single additional spike in between two regular pulses caused a reliable latency shift of 1.2±0.2 ms (mean ±SEM) and additional pulses lead to an approximately linear latency increase (2 pulses: 2.3±0.3 ms; 4 pulses: 5.9±0.7 ms). In contrast to the number of interposed stimuli, different intervals between interposed and regular stimuli had only a minor impact on the latency shifts. It is concluded that latency shifts are reliable indicators of C-fiber activation, being sensitive enough to detect even single spike responses. Furthermore, latency increases may be used as a relative measure of C-fiber activation, e.g., when comparing responses to stimuli of different strength.     

Aerobic power and pubertal peak height velocity in Belgian boys

Summary To determine the cardiorespiratory response to maximal exercise before, during and after the pubescent growth spurt, thirty boys were tested at yearly intervals over a period of six consecutive years. For each individual, peak height velocity (PHV) was determined. The age at PHV (¯X= 13.6 years) was taken as a standard of maturation. The results from all subjects at 1.5 and 0.5 years before and 0.5 and 1.5 years after PHV are presented. The highest oxygen uptake ( ) obtained during an incremental bicycle ergometer test to voluntary exhaustion was taken as peak oxygen uptake ( peak). Across each of the four years studied, mean peak (min=49.6; max=52.5 ml·kg^–1·min^–1) and mean heart rate (HR) at peak (min=190; max=192) did not change significantly as a function of PHV. On the other hand, the respiratory quotient at peak increased considerably from mean minima and maxima of 0.99 and 1.01 before PHV to 1.07 and 1.10 after PHV. Ventilatory equivalent for ( ), taken as an indicator of ventilatory economy, seemed to be unaffected by the maturation process. The steepest increase in circumpubertal oxygen pulse was found one year after PHV. Average stability coefficients (¯r), calculated from the inter-years correlations were high for height (¯r=0.95), weight (¯r=0.92), HR at peak (¯r=0.74), peak in 1/min (¯r=0.71), oxygen pulse (¯r=0.68) and tidal volume (¯r=0.64).     

Median frequency of the myoelectric signal

Summary A study was performed to investigate the changes that occur in the median frequency of the myoelectric signal during local ischemia or reduction of intramuscular temperature produced by surface cooling. Data was obtained from experiments which involved the first dorsal interosseous muscle of 10 female and 16 male subjects. These subjects were asked to perform isometric constant-force abduction contractions of the index finger at 20% and 80% of maximal voluntary contraction level. The initial median frequency (IMF) of the myoelectric signal during the first 0.5 s of contraction was calculated. Results showed a significant reduction of the IMF in contractions performed under ischemic conditions; upon release, the IMF recovered quickly. At 80% maximal voluntary level of contraction, a greater decrease of the IMF was recorded. Similar results were demonstrated during reduction of intramuscular temperature with gradual recovery of the IMF after cooling. These results demonstrate that the median frequency of the myoelectric signal displays behavior similar to that reported for conduction velocity and this is consistent with the notion that accumulation of metabolic byproducts in muscle tissue causes a decrease in the conduction velocity of the muscle fibers.Dr. R. Merletti was on a leave of absence from the Institute of Electrical Engineering, Politecnico di Torino, Italy     

颅骨缺损状态下区域血流速度变化

目的 :探讨颅骨缺损病理状态下区域血流速度变化。方法 :应用TCD测定不同缺损面积的颅骨缺损病人术前患侧及健侧和术后患侧ICA、ACA、MCA、PCA、BA平均血流速度。结果 :≥ 35cm2 病人患侧颅内血管平均血流速度高于正常 ,而健侧颅内血管平均血流速度正常。 <35cm2 病人患侧及健侧颅内血管平均血流速度均在正常范围。结论 :颅骨缺损病理状态下常可引起区域血流速度改变 ,血流速度改变是指导颅骨缺损修补的重要依据     

基于暗视场荧光图像分析的大鼠微血管流速测量系统的建立

将荧光标记的自身红细胞注入SD大鼠体内,在荧光显微镜下观测标记红细胞在大鼠微血管中的流动情况,并通过显微摄像系统将整个过程以视频信号的形式存贮。使用视频采集卡将流速变化过程回放采样,得到暗视场下的荧光图像。然后利用帧图像分离出奇偶场的图像分析方法测定血流速度。在该系统下测量流动小室中荧光小球的流速,得到的测量值与实际值之间的误差小于7%,两者没明显的差异(P>0.05),流速测量的上限为9.6mm/s。并在大鼠微循环障碍研究中,应用此系统得到了血流速度随时间变化的情况。     

视空间认知与脑血流速度的相关性研究

目的:探讨视觉空间认知活动对脑血流速度(CBFV)的影响及性别和任务完成质量对相对的CBFV变化的影响。方法:在完成视觉空间认知活动时及其先前的休息期,对45个正常的志愿者(右利手)用经颅超声多普勒(TCD)监测其双侧大脑中动脉血流速度的变化。结果:完成认知任务时与休息时期相比,所有认知任务的完成均诱导出双侧大脑中动脉血流速度的显著变化(P<0.001),这种变化显示出显著的右侧大脑半球偏侧化(P<0.01)。性别对认知活动所诱导的脑血流速度未产生显著的影响(P >0.05),任务表现质量(得分)对CBFV的变化不产生显著的影响。结论:视觉空间认知活动可诱导CBFV的右侧偏侧化。     

肌电图和运动神经传导速度检查诊断周围神经损伤

对136例周围神经损伤患者进行肌电图(EMG)与运动神经传导速度(MCV)分析。损伤神经支配的168块肌肉,EMG均为神经原性损害。166条受损神经MCV均有不同程度的减慢或缺失,其中周围神经完全断伤29.52％,严重损伤21.69％,中度损伤21.08％,轻度损伤27.71％。本文认为对周围神经损伤的定位和损伤程度的判断EMG和MCV是可靠和有效的方法。     

Effect of postactivation potentiation on dynamic knee extension performance

Six men and four women performed, in separate trials, maximal dynamic knee extensions with loads of 15%, 30%, 45% and 60% of maximal isometric knee extension peak torque (MVC). The dynamic extensions were done after postactivation potentiation (PAP) had been induced with a 10-s MVC, and in a control trial without PAP. PAP, measured as the increase in evoked twitch torque, was 53 (4)% (SE) and 43 (3)% at the time of the first and second extensions with each load. PAP failed to increase the attained peak velocity with any load; on the contrary, there was a trend for peak velocity to decrease in the first extension, which occurred ≅15 s after the 10-s MVC. The results suggest that fatigue produced by the 10-s MVC suppressed any benefit that could be derived from the induced PAP. A surface electromyogram (EMG) recorded from one muscle of quadriceps femoris gave no indication of activation failure in the first knee extension; however, activation impairment specific to the rate of force development cannot be ruled out. It is concluded that the strategy employed, namely of having knee extensions performed soon after the 10-s MVC to maximize PAP at the time of performance, was unsuccessful because there had been insufficient time for recovery from fatigue. It is possible that a longer recovery time, even at the cost of a diminished PAP, may have proved beneficial. Accepted: 27 July 2000