Convergence of Ia fibres from synergistic and antagonistic muscles onto interneurones inhibitory to soleus in humans. 1990

M Schieppati, and C Romanò, and I Gritti
Istituto di Fisiologia Umana II, Università degli Studi di Milano, Italy.

1. The possibility that Ia afferent fibres from the gastrocnemius medialis (GM) and from the tibialis anterior (TA) muscle could converge on to a single interneuronal pool inhibitory to the soleus motoneurones was investigated. 2. The soleus H reflex, evoked by tibial nerve stimulation in the popliteal fossa, was conditioned by separate or combined stimulation of the nerves to the GM or TA muscles. Stimulus intensity was below the motor threshold (MTh), and the conditioning-test intervals were such as to evoke short-latency inhibition of the soleus H reflex. Care was taken to avoid current spread and artifacts connected with the closeness in time and space of the conditioning and test stimuli. 3. Separate stimulation of both GM and TA nerves was able to induce significant inhibitory effects on the H reflex amplitude at stimulus strengths larger than 0.75 x MTh, on the average. Combined stimulation of the two nerves was able to reduce the H reflex at lower stimulus strengths, at which either nerve was ineffective alone. 4. Conditioning stimulus strengths close to the MTh reduced the H reflex to approximately 80% of the control value, both on single and combined stimulation, i.e. saturation of the inhibitory effect was found. 5. By extrapolating the regression line through the normalized data from all subjects, it was assumed that the smallest stimulus strength necessary to drive the inhibitory interneurones to threshold was, on the average, 0.5 and 0.6 x MTh, on combined and separate nerve stimulation, respectively. 6. Tonic voluntary activation of the soleus abolished the inhibitory effects of both separate and combined stimulations. This was tested on the H reflex, on the rectified and averaged EMG, and on the peristimulus histogram of single motor unit discharge. 7. The findings strongly suggest the existence of spatial summation of the effects from GM and TA muscle at the level of a single interneuronal pool. Most probably, the responsible afferent fibres are group I spindle afferents, and the interneurones those mediating the reciprocal inhibition. The data do not support the notion of parallel pathways, exclusive to each nerve.

UI MeSH Term Description Entries
D007395 Interneurons Most generally any NEURONS which are not motor or sensory. Interneurons may also refer to neurons whose AXONS remain within a particular brain region in contrast to projection neurons, which have axons projecting to other brain regions. Intercalated Neurons,Intercalated Neuron,Interneuron,Neuron, Intercalated,Neurons, Intercalated
D009119 Muscle Contraction A process leading to shortening and/or development of tension in muscle tissue. Muscle contraction occurs by a sliding filament mechanism whereby actin filaments slide inward among the myosin filaments. Inotropism,Muscular Contraction,Contraction, Muscle,Contraction, Muscular,Contractions, Muscle,Contractions, Muscular,Inotropisms,Muscle Contractions,Muscular Contractions
D009132 Muscles Contractile tissue that produces movement in animals. Muscle Tissue,Muscle,Muscle Tissues,Tissue, Muscle,Tissues, Muscle
D009412 Nerve Fibers Slender processes of NEURONS, including the AXONS and their glial envelopes (MYELIN SHEATH). Nerve fibers conduct nerve impulses to and from the CENTRAL NERVOUS SYSTEM. Cerebellar Mossy Fibers,Mossy Fibers, Cerebellar,Cerebellar Mossy Fiber,Mossy Fiber, Cerebellar,Nerve Fiber
D009433 Neural Inhibition The function of opposing or restraining the excitation of neurons or their target excitable cells. Inhibition, Neural
D009475 Neurons, Afferent Neurons which conduct NERVE IMPULSES to the CENTRAL NERVOUS SYSTEM. Afferent Neurons,Afferent Neuron,Neuron, Afferent
D012023 Reflex, Monosynaptic A reflex in which the AFFERENT NEURONS synapse directly on the EFFERENT NEURONS, without any INTERCALATED NEURONS. (Lockard, Desk Reference for Neuroscience, 2nd ed.) Monosynaptic Reflex
D006801 Humans Members of the species Homo sapiens. Homo sapiens,Man (Taxonomy),Human,Man, Modern,Modern Man
D000328 Adult A person having attained full growth or maturity. Adults are of 19 through 44 years of age. For a person between 19 and 24 years of age, YOUNG ADULT is available. Adults
D012879 Skin Physiological Phenomena The functions of the skin in the human and animal body. It includes the pigmentation of the skin. Skin Physiological Processes,Skin Physiology,Physiology, Skin,Skin Physiological Concepts,Skin Physiological Phenomenon,Skin Physiological Process,Concept, Skin Physiological,Concepts, Skin Physiological,Phenomena, Skin Physiological,Phenomenas, Skin Physiological,Phenomenon, Skin Physiological,Phenomenons, Skin Physiological,Physiological Concept, Skin,Physiological Concepts, Skin,Physiological Phenomena, Skin,Physiological Phenomenas, Skin,Physiological Phenomenon, Skin,Physiological Phenomenons, Skin,Process, Skin Physiological,Processes, Skin Physiological,Skin Physiological Concept,Skin Physiological Phenomenas,Skin Physiological Phenomenons

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