Motor control of nuclear bag and nuclear chain intrafusal fibres in isolated living muscle spindles from the cat. 1975

I A Boyd, and J Ward

1. The behaviour of nuclear bag and nuclear chain intrafusal fibres in isolated cat muscle spindles was studied by direct observation during repetitive stimulation of the muscle nerve at different stimulus strengths. Contraction of intrafusal fibres and stretch of sensory endings was recorded on film. 2. Tenuissimus spindles are usually operated by a total of four or five fusimotor axons, and the individual action of all of them was studied in many cases. 3. The great majority of fusimotor axons produce activity at one spindle pole only. 4. In about 60% of spindles nuclear bag and nuclear chain intrafusal fibres are selectively controlled by different fusimotor axons, while in one third of these spindles the individual nuclear bag fibres are themselves controlled independently. The remaining 40% of spindles, in addition to some selective innervation, receive one non-selective axon which operates both nuclear chain and nuclear bag fibres though usually only one of the nuclear bag fibres is involved. Selective control is demonstrated in photographs. 5. The thresholds of fusimotor axons selectively innervating nuclear bag and nuclear chain fibres, and of non-selective fusimotor axons are not significantly different. 6. It is suggested that in spindles in which the nuclear bag fibres are controlled by the same axon, it is a 'dynamic' gamma, or occasionally beta, axon. Where one nuclear bag fibre is operated along with the nuclear chain fibres it is controlled by 'static' gamma axon(s), and the other nuclear bag fibre is selectively controlled by 'dynamic' gamma, and perhaps beta, axon(s). Where two nuclear bag fibres are separately operated one may be controlled by 'dynamic' axon(s) and the other by 'static' gamma axon(s). Nuclear chain fibres are always controlled by 'static' gamma axons.

UI MeSH Term Description Entries
D009040 Motion Pictures The art, technique, or business of producing motion pictures for entertainment, propaganda, or instruction. Film,Motion Picture,Movie,Cinema,Films,Films as Topic,Movies,Movies as Topic,Cinemas,Films as Topics,Movies as Topics,Picture, Motion,Pictures, Motion
D009046 Motor Neurons Neurons which activate MUSCLE CELLS. Neurons, Motor,Alpha Motorneurons,Motoneurons,Motor Neurons, Alpha,Neurons, Alpha Motor,Alpha Motor Neuron,Alpha Motor Neurons,Alpha Motorneuron,Motoneuron,Motor Neuron,Motor Neuron, Alpha,Motorneuron, Alpha,Motorneurons, Alpha,Neuron, Alpha Motor,Neuron, Motor
D009411 Nerve Endings Branch-like terminations of NERVE FIBERS, sensory or motor NEURONS. Endings of sensory neurons are the beginnings of afferent pathway to the CENTRAL NERVOUS SYSTEM. Endings of motor neurons are the terminals of axons at the muscle cells. Nerve endings which release neurotransmitters are called PRESYNAPTIC TERMINALS. Ending, Nerve,Endings, Nerve,Nerve Ending
D009470 Muscle Spindles Skeletal muscle structures that function as the MECHANORECEPTORS responsible for the stretch or myotactic reflex (REFLEX, STRETCH). They are composed of a bundle of encapsulated SKELETAL MUSCLE FIBERS, i.e., the intrafusal fibers (nuclear bag 1 fibers, nuclear bag 2 fibers, and nuclear chain fibers) innervated by SENSORY NEURONS. Muscle Stretch Receptors,Neuromuscular Spindles,Receptors, Stretch, Muscle,Stretch Receptors, Muscle,Muscle Spindle,Muscle Stretch Receptor,Neuromuscular Spindle,Receptor, Muscle Stretch,Receptors, Muscle Stretch,Spindle, Muscle,Spindle, Neuromuscular,Spindles, Muscle,Spindles, Neuromuscular,Stretch Receptor, Muscle
D009475 Neurons, Afferent Neurons which conduct NERVE IMPULSES to the CENTRAL NERVOUS SYSTEM. Afferent Neurons,Afferent Neuron,Neuron, Afferent
D009476 Neurons, Efferent Neurons which send impulses peripherally to activate muscles or secretory cells. Efferent Neurons,Efferent Neuron,Neuron, Efferent
D002415 Cats The domestic cat, Felis catus, of the carnivore family FELIDAE, comprising over 30 different breeds. The domestic cat is descended primarily from the wild cat of Africa and extreme southwestern Asia. Though probably present in towns in Palestine as long ago as 7000 years, actual domestication occurred in Egypt about 4000 years ago. (From Walker's Mammals of the World, 6th ed, p801) Felis catus,Felis domesticus,Domestic Cats,Felis domestica,Felis sylvestris catus,Cat,Cat, Domestic,Cats, Domestic,Domestic Cat
D004558 Electric Stimulation Use of electric potential or currents to elicit biological responses. Stimulation, Electric,Electrical Stimulation,Electric Stimulations,Electrical Stimulations,Stimulation, Electrical,Stimulations, Electric,Stimulations, Electrical
D000200 Action Potentials Abrupt changes in the membrane potential that sweep along the CELL MEMBRANE of excitable cells in response to excitation stimuli. Spike Potentials,Nerve Impulses,Action Potential,Impulse, Nerve,Impulses, Nerve,Nerve Impulse,Potential, Action,Potential, Spike,Potentials, Action,Potentials, Spike,Spike Potential
D000818 Animals Unicellular or multicellular, heterotrophic organisms, that have sensation and the power of voluntary movement. Under the older five kingdom paradigm, Animalia was one of the kingdoms. Under the modern three domain model, Animalia represents one of the many groups in the domain EUKARYOTA. Animal,Metazoa,Animalia

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