Contractile properties of single motor units in two multi-tendoned muscles of the cat distal forelimb

Summary The contractile properties of motor units (MUs) in two multi-tendoned forelimb muscles were investigated. In anesthetized cats single MUs of the extensor carpi ulnaris (ECU) and extensor digitorum communis (EDC) muscles were selectively activated by stimulation of cervical ventral root filaments. MUs were characterized by various tests including single twitches, series of tetanic contractions providing a tension-frequency relation and a fatigue test. They were classified by the parameters contraction time (CT, time-to-peak within unpotentiated single twitches) and fatigue-index (R_B, according to Burke). The ECU muscle is composed of 38% type FR MUs (fast, fatigue-sensitive; CT<38 ms; R_B<0.5), 35% type FR MUs (CT<38 ms, R_B>0.5) and 27% type S MUs (slow; CT>38 ms, R_B>0.5). 46% of the EDC MUs were classified as FF (R_B0.25), 29% as FI (fast, intermediately fatiguable; 0.25<R_B<0.75) and 25% as FR/S (fatigue-resistant, fast or slow; R_B>-0.75). The latter group was devised since most MUs appeared as fast and the unequivocal presence of slow MUs could neither be demonstrated nor excluded. Normalized tension-frequency relations of fast ECU and EDC MUs were nearly identical and similar to those reported for fast MUs of other muscles. In contrast to this, the tension-frequency relation of slow ECU MUs has a different shape supporting the use of this function to distinguish fast from slow MUs. The distribution of different types of MUs is discussed with regard to the structure and function of the parent muscles and in relation to hindlimb muscles of comparable architecture. As revealed by comparison to EMG data gained in behaving animals (Fritz et al. 1985; Hoffmann et al. 1986, Botterman et al. 1985), the three muscles of the cat distal forelimb investigated so far seem to be adapted to different tasks: the EDC to rapid movements with a high proportion of type FF MUs, flexor carpi radialis to sustained contractions during the body support with a high proportion of fatigue-resistant MUs; the ECU which changes synergism between both muscles has an intermediate composition.     

Signal Characteristics of EMG at Different Levels of Muscle Tension

Electromyographic activity of m. rectus femoris at submaximal and maximal voluntary contractions was quantified by conventional integration technique and also be a more “qualitative” procedure of automated motor unit averaging and frequency spectrum analysis. By relating the EMG parameters to produced muscle tension it was observed that the integrated EMG increased in a slightly nonlinear fashion with the increase in muscle force. The other EMG variables also showed clear changes as a function of muscle tension. The averaged motor unit potential (AMUP) and its specific parameters (number of spikes, amplitude, rise time and amplitude-rise time ratio) showed such changes with muscle tension that they may be useful in estimation of the recruitment pattern of the different types of motor units.     

Motor unit recruitment order during voluntary and electrically induced contractions in the tibialis anterior

 The recruitment order of motor units (MU) was compared during voluntary and electrically induced contractions. With the use of spike-triggered averaging, a total of 302 MUs with recruitment thresholds ranging from 1% to 88% of maximal voluntary contraction were recorded in the human tibialis anterior muscle in five subjects. The mean (±SD) MU force was 98.3±93.3 mN (mean torque 16.8±15.9 mNm) and the mean contraction time (CT) 46.2±12.7 ms. The correlation coefficients (r) between MU twitch force and CT versus the recruitment threshold in voluntary contractions were +0.68 and –0.38 (P<0.001), respectively. In voluntary contractions, MUs were recruited in order of increasing size except for only 6% of the cases; whereas, during transcutaneous electrical stimulation (ES) at the muscle motor point, MU pairs showed a reversal of recruitment order in 28% and 35% of the observations, respectively, when the pulse durations were 1.0 ms or 0.1 ms. This recruitment reversal during ES was not related to the magnitude of the difference in voluntary recruitment thresholds between MUs. It is concluded that if the reversal of MU recruitment observed during ES is biophysically controlled by differences in their nerve axon input impedance, in percutaneous stimulation at the motor point, other factors such as the size and the morphological organisation of the axonal branches can also influence the order of activation. Received: 24 May 1996 / Accepted: 30 September 1996     

Some studies on the mechanism of action of antibodies to nerve growth factor.

The effects of antibodies to the nerve growth factor from mouse salivary gland were examined in vitro and in vivo. Treatment of explants of receptive ganglia with antibody and complement did not produce cell damage as judged by the ability of the tissue to respond to nerve growth factor. New-born mice experimentally depleted of or genetically deficient in key complement components were susceptible to the action of the antiserum.These results show that the effect of the antibody is independent of complement and are consistent with the view that it acts by neutralization of endogenous nerve growth factor.     

Ia Afferent input alters the recruitment thresholds and firing rates of single human motor units

Vibration of the patellar tendon recruits motor units in the knee extensors via excitation of muscle spindles and subsequent Ia afferent input to the α-motoneuron pool. Our first purpose was to determine if the recruitment threshold and firing rate of the same motor unit differed when recruited involuntarily via reflex or voluntarily via descending spinal pathways. Although Ia input is excitatory to the α-motoneuron pool, it has also been shown paradoxically to inhibit itself. Our second purpose was to determine if vibration of the patellar tendon during a voluntary knee extension causes a change in the firing rate of already recruited motor units. In the first protocol, 10 subjects voluntarily reproduced the same isometric force profile of the knee extensors that was elicited by vibration of the patellar tendon. Single motor unit recordings from the vastus lateralis (VL) were obtained with tungsten microelectrodes and unitary behaviour was examined during both reflex and voluntary knee extensions. Recordings from 135 single motor units showed that both recruitment thresholds and firing rates were lower during reflex contractions. In the second protocol, 7 subjects maintained a voluntary knee extension at 30 N for approximately 40–45 s. Three bursts of patellar tendon vibration were superimposed at regular intervals throughout the contraction and changes in the firing rate of already recruited motor units were examined. A total of 35 motor units were recorded and each burst of superimposed vibration caused a momentary reduction in the firing rates and recruitment of additional units. Our data provide evidence that Ia input modulates the recruitment thresholds and firing rates of motor units providing more flexibility within the neuromuscular system to grade force at low levels of force production. Electronic Publication     

Adaptive motor unit action potential clustering using shape and temporal information

An adaptive algorithm is described that groups motor unit action potentials (MUAPs), detected in a composite EMG signal during signal decomposition, and creates partial motor unit action potential trains (MUAPTs). Data-driven MUAP shape and motor unit firing-pattern based criteria are used to form the clusters. An algorithm for estimating MUAPT temporal parameter, which provides accurate estimates even for partially defined trains, is used to obtain firing-pattern information. No a priori knowledge is required regarding the number of clusters or the distribution of their template shapes. The clustering algorithm when applied to real concentric-needle detected MUAP data provides accurate and useful clustering results. Compared to a classical leader-based algorithm, it provides more robust performance, is better able to estimate the true number of motor units represented in a set of detected MUAPs, and obtains more complete and accurate MUAPTs.     

Prefrontal unit activity during associative learning in the monkey

Summary Single unit activity was recorded from the dorsolateral prefrontal cortex of two monkeys which were trained on a stimulus-reward association task. The monkeys were trained on a reaction time task overlapped with a classical conditioning paradigm. The sequential events of the task were as follows: (1) lever pressing to start the trial; (2) presentation of a visual cue for 1 s; (3) delay period of 1 s; (4) imperative stimulus presentation; and (5) release of the lever by the animal. The visual cue signaled whether or not a drop of fruit juice would be given (its associative significance) for the animal's release response instead of signaling what response the animal should perform (its behavioral significance). In this task, the animal had to release the lever even on the trial where no juice was given in order to advance to the next trial. A total of 423 units showed activity changes in relation to one or more of the task events, such as the cue presentation, delay, release response and reward delivery. Among 313 units which showed cue-related activity changes, 179 units showed differential activity in relation to the different cues. A majority of them (Type M; n = 120) showed activity changes in relation to whether the cue indicated juice delivery or not, independent of its physical properties. The activity of 13 units (Type P) was related to the physical properties of the stimulus, and the activity of the remaining 46 units (Type MP) appeared to be related to both aspects of the stimulus. Sustained activity changes during the delay period were observed in 68 Type M, in 3 Type P and in 24 Type MP units. The results suggest that the prefrontal cortex plays important roles in the stimulus-reward association and that prefrontal units are involved in higher order information processing, extracting and retaining the associative significance of the stimulus independent of its physical properties.     

Theoretical analysis of surface EMG in voluntary isometric contraction

Summary A new stochastic model of the surface EMG is suggested and the spectral density of the surface EMG is studied theoretically and experimentally to confirm the validity of this model.Theoretical results show that while the contraction level is not so high, the shape of the spectral density (distribution) does not change and its amplitude is directly proportional to the motor unit firing frequency and recruitment.To illustrate the theoretical results, experiments were carried out for rectus femoris and biceps brachii. The surface EMG was lead off by bipolar surface electrodes. And the spectral density of the surface EMG was calculated using FFT algorithm.From these experimental results, it was confirmed that our theoretical results were almost valid.     

Effect of influenza A virus on leukocyte histamine release

Viral respiratory infections provoke asthma in many patients. In the following study we examined the effect of an in vitro incubation of influenza A on leukocyte histamine release. After incubation with a live influenza A (H3N2) virus, calcium ionophore A23187 (0.5, 1.0, and 1.5 microgram/ml)-induced leukocyte histamine release (HR) was enhanced (p less than 0.05). This effect was also found with heat- or ether-inactivated virus. Similarly, influenza A-exposed leukocytes had augmented leukocyte HR during subsequent incubation with ragweed AgE. Incubation of the leukocyte suspension with interferon (800 IU/ml) for 24 hr was also associated with enhanced HR to ragweed AgE. In contrast, interferon did not alter the calcium ionophore A23187 HR. Therefore, although interferon may mediate the enhanced leukocyte HR when ragweed AgE is the inciting stimulus, it does not change HR to the calcium ionophore.     

Effect of leucine-enkephalin on cerebral cortical unit activity

Experiments on unanesthetized rats immobilized with flaxedil showed that leucineenkephalin (150 g), if injected into the lateral cerebral ventricle, caused heterogeneous changes in the activity of 21 sensomotor cortical units tested. Spike discharges of five neurons were reduced and those of 11 neurons increased. Naloxone (2 mg/kg, intravenously) prevented both the inhibitor and the activating effect of leucine-enkephalin in the case of repeated injections of this pentapeptide. Leucine-enkephalin did not change the activity of five units.Department of Pharmacology, Faculties of Internal Medicine and Hygiene, I. M. Sechenov First Moscow Medical Institute. (Presented by Academician of the Academy of Medical Sciences of the USSR V. V. Zakusov.) Translated from Byulleten' Éksperimental'noi Biologii i Meditsiny, Vol. 88, No. 7, pp. 42–44, July, 1979.