Biomaterial Database

Components of responses of a population of DSCT neurons to muscle stretch and contraction. 1989

C E Osborn, and R E Poppele

Laboratory of Neurophysiology, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis 55455.

1. Impulse activity of 264 units of the dorsal spinocerebellar tract (DSCT) was recorded during random contraction or stretch in hindlimb muscles. Contractions were evoked in either the isolated gastrocnemius-soleus (GS) muscles or the intact limb during crossed-extensor reflexes; stretches were applied to the isolated GS. 2. The time course of poststimulus changes in spike activity of DSCT neurons was determined from the response probability function (RPF; Ref. 15). These data were analyzed using principal component and cluster analysis to group the responses according to the RPF waveforms. 3. The responses to each type of stimulus displayed a remarkable similarity in time course, regardless of the type of stimulus used. The responses were also similar to those observed previously during single shock nerve stimulation (14). 4. The most reasonable explanation for these results is that the time course of excitability changes in DSCT neurons is determined less by particular types of receptors or patterns of afferent fiber activity than by the circuitry and afferent pathways impinging on the neurons of the DSCT. 5. The functional organization of DSCT suggested by these results includes a wide divergence from sensory receptors along polysynaptic pathways to DSCT neurons and considerable convergence onto each neuron from a diversity of receptors. Individual DSCT cells may respond to stimuli with one of a few stereo-typical response patterns yet the distribution of those patterns among the units of the DSCT population may be unique for each stimulus.

UI	MeSH Term	Description	Entries
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
D009474	Neurons	The basic cellular units of nervous tissue. Each neuron consists of a body, an axon, and dendrites. Their purpose is to receive, conduct, and transmit impulses in the NERVOUS SYSTEM.	Nerve Cells,Cell, Nerve,Cells, Nerve,Nerve Cell,Neuron
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
D004594	Electrophysiology	The study of the generation and behavior of electrical charges in living organisms particularly the nervous system and the effects of electricity on living organisms.
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
D013223	Statistics as Topic	Works about the science and art of collecting, summarizing, and analyzing data that are subject to random variation.	Area Analysis,Estimation Technics,Estimation Techniques,Indirect Estimation Technics,Indirect Estimation Techniques,Multiple Classification Analysis,Service Statistics,Statistical Study,Statistics, Service,Tables and Charts as Topic,Analyses, Area,Analyses, Multiple Classification,Area Analyses,Classification Analyses, Multiple,Classification Analysis, Multiple,Estimation Technic, Indirect,Estimation Technics, Indirect,Estimation Technique,Estimation Technique, Indirect,Estimation Techniques, Indirect,Indirect Estimation Technic,Indirect Estimation Technique,Multiple Classification Analyses,Statistical Studies,Studies, Statistical,Study, Statistical,Technic, Indirect Estimation,Technics, Estimation,Technics, Indirect Estimation,Technique, Estimation,Technique, Indirect Estimation,Techniques, Estimation,Techniques, Indirect Estimation