Presynaptic and postsynaptic mechanisms underlying H-reflex changes produced by a selective voluntary contraction
Michele Abbruzzese MD
Department of Neurogical Sciences, University of Genoa, Via De Toni 5, 16132 Genoa, Italy
Search for more papers by this authorLizia Reni MD
Department of Neurogical Sciences, University of Genoa, Via De Toni 5, 16132 Genoa, Italy
Search for more papers by this authorCinzia Minatel MD
Department of Neurogical Sciences, University of Genoa, Via De Toni 5, 16132 Genoa, Italy
Search for more papers by this authorCorresponding Author
Emilio Favale MD
Department of Neurogical Sciences, University of Genoa, Via De Toni 5, 16132 Genoa, Italy
Department of Neurogical Sciences, University of Genoa, Via De Toni 5, 16132 Genoa, ItalySearch for more papers by this authorMichele Abbruzzese MD
Department of Neurogical Sciences, University of Genoa, Via De Toni 5, 16132 Genoa, Italy
Search for more papers by this authorLizia Reni MD
Department of Neurogical Sciences, University of Genoa, Via De Toni 5, 16132 Genoa, Italy
Search for more papers by this authorCinzia Minatel MD
Department of Neurogical Sciences, University of Genoa, Via De Toni 5, 16132 Genoa, Italy
Search for more papers by this authorCorresponding Author
Emilio Favale MD
Department of Neurogical Sciences, University of Genoa, Via De Toni 5, 16132 Genoa, Italy
Department of Neurogical Sciences, University of Genoa, Via De Toni 5, 16132 Genoa, ItalySearch for more papers by this authorAbstract
Concurrent recordings of (i) the soleus H reflex and (ii) the underlying afferent (P1) and efferent (P2) neural volleys were performed during a protracted, moderate, isometric, voluntary contraction of the soleus (S) muscle, and the subsequent release period. Besides the expected enhancement of the H reflex, muscular contraction caused a significant reduction in the corresponding central delay (as extrapolated from variations of P1–P2 interval), while the opposite trend occurred during the release phase. Control experiments, based on (a) neural blockade below the stimulation site, (b) muscle stretching at the end of the muscular contraction, (c) changes in amplitude of homonymous and heteronymous S responses, and (d) variations in effectiveness of homonymous and heteronymous conditioning volleys on the S motoneuronal pool, showed that both voluntary contraction and the subsequent release period are associated with a reduced effectiveness of Ia afferents, while postsynaptic motoneuronal responsiveness is significantly modified only during the actual contraction time. © 1998 John Wiley & Sons, Inc. Muscle Nerve 21:439–453, 1998.
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