Biomaterial Database

The effect of acute joint inflammation on flexion reflex excitability in the decerebrate, low-spinal cat. 1988

W R Ferrell, and L Wood, and R H Baxendale

Institute of Physiology, University of Glasgow.

Experiments were performed to investigate whether acute knee joint inflammation, induced by intra-articular injection of carrageenan and kaolin, significantly influences the magnitude of the flexion withdrawal reflex of knee flexors in the decerebrate, low-spinal cat. It was observed that after injection of these inflammatory agents, reflex intensity increased with a time course that matched the development of the inflammatory process, as assessed by monitoring the intra-articular temperature. Control experiments involving intra-articular injection of saline showed neither a rise in intra-articular temperature, nor any change in reflex intensity. The normal pattern of modulation of reflex intensity with changing joint angle was abolished in the inflamed joint with the reflex being equally intense at all positions tested. Abolition of neural activity in the inflamed joint by intra-articular injection of lignocaine resulted in a marked decrease in the reflex back to control values, suggesting that there is no maintained increase in central excitability in the absence of joint afferent input. It was also observed that the spontaneous activity of knee flexor motor units was modulated during continuous passive rotation of the knee, with activity being greater in extension than in flexion. This pattern reversed when the knee was acutely inflamed, but could be returned to the control pattern by joint anaesthesia, although now the response was attenuated when compared to the control.

UI	MeSH Term	Description	Entries
D007249	Inflammation	A pathological process characterized by injury or destruction of tissues caused by a variety of cytologic and chemical reactions. It is usually manifested by typical signs of pain, heat, redness, swelling, and loss of function.	Innate Inflammatory Response,Inflammations,Inflammatory Response, Innate,Innate Inflammatory Responses
D007596	Joints	Also known as articulations, these are points of connection between the ends of certain separate bones, or where the borders of other bones are juxtaposed.	Joint
D007616	Kaolin	The most common mineral of a group of hydrated aluminum silicates, approximately H2Al2Si2O8-H2O. It is prepared for pharmaceutical and medicinal purposes by levigating with water to remove sand, etc. (From Merck Index, 11th ed) The name is derived from Kao-ling (Chinese: "high ridge"), the original site. (From Grant & Hackh's Chemical Dictionary, 5th ed)	Kaolinite
D009431	Neural Conduction	The propagation of the NERVE IMPULSE along the nerve away from the site of an excitation stimulus.	Nerve Conduction,Conduction, Nerve,Conduction, Neural,Conductions, Nerve,Conductions, Neural,Nerve Conductions,Neural Conductions
D012018	Reflex	An involuntary movement or exercise of function in a part, excited in response to a stimulus applied to the periphery and transmitted to the brain or spinal cord.
D002351	Carrageenan	A water-soluble extractive mixture of sulfated polysaccharides from RED ALGAE. Chief sources are the Irish moss CHONDRUS CRISPUS (Carrageen), and Gigartina stellata. It is used as a stabilizer, for suspending COCOA in chocolate manufacture, and to clarify BEVERAGES.	Carrageenin,iota-Carrageenan,kappa-Carrageenan,lambda-Carrageenan,iota Carrageenan,kappa Carrageenan,lambda Carrageenan
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
D003655	Decerebrate State	A condition characterized by abnormal posturing of the limbs that is associated with injury to the brainstem. This may occur as a clinical manifestation or induced experimentally in animals. The extensor reflexes are exaggerated leading to rigid extension of the limbs accompanied by hyperreflexia and opisthotonus. This condition is usually caused by lesions which occur in the region of the brainstem that lies between the red nuclei and the vestibular nuclei. In contrast, decorticate rigidity is characterized by flexion of the elbows and wrists with extension of the legs and feet. The causative lesion for this condition is located above the red nuclei and usually consists of diffuse cerebral damage. (From Adams et al., Principles of Neurology, 6th ed, p358)	Decerebrate Posturing,Decorticate Rigidity,Decorticate State,Rigidity, Decerebrate,Rigidity, Decorticate,Decerebrate Posturings,Decerebrate Rigidity,Decerebrate States,Decorticate Rigidities,Decorticate States,Posturing, Decerebrate,Posturings, Decerebrate,Rigidities, Decorticate,State, Decerebrate,States, Decerebrate
D004576	Electromyography	Recording of the changes in electric potential of muscle by means of surface or needle electrodes.	Electromyogram,Surface Electromyography,Electromyograms,Electromyographies,Electromyographies, Surface,Electromyography, Surface,Surface Electromyographies
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