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Related Experiment Videos

Segmental reflex action in normal and decerebrate cats.

J A Hoffer1, T R Leonard, C L Cleland

  • 1Department of Clinical Neurosciences, University of Calgary, Faculty of Medicine, Alberta, Canada.

Journal of Neurophysiology
|November 1, 1990
PubMed
Summary

Decerebration significantly amplified the stretch reflex in cat ankle extensor muscles, increasing electromyograph (EMG) burst areas and revealing a delayed force response. This highlights the role of the brainstem in modulating spinal stretch reflexes for postural control.

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Area of Science:

  • Neuroscience
  • Motor Control
  • Physiology

Background:

  • The stretch reflex is a fundamental mechanism for maintaining muscle tone and posture.
  • Understanding how central nervous system lesions, such as decerebration, affect reflex pathways is crucial for comprehending motor control.
  • Previous research has explored spinal reflexes, but the influence of higher brain centers on the stretch reflex in specific muscle groups requires further elucidation.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate the impact of decerebration on the stretch reflex characteristics of ankle extensor muscles (soleus and lateral gastrocnemius) in cats.
  • To differentiate between intrinsic muscle/tendon viscoelastic properties and reflex contributions to the force response during muscle stretch.
  • To assess changes in electromyographic (EMG) activity and force generation following stretch perturbations before and after decerebration.

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Main Methods:

  • Experiments were conducted on nine unrestrained cats, both intact and after decerebration at the premammillary level.
  • Implanted transducers and electrodes recorded muscle length, force, and EMG of soleus (SOL) and lateral gastrocnemius (LG) muscles.
  • Ankle dorsiflexion, induced by common peroneal (CP) nerve stimulation, stretched ankle extensor muscles; reversible nerve blocks were used to isolate reflex responses.

Main Results:

  • Muscle stretch elicited an initial rapid force rise (30-40 ms) attributed to viscoelasticity, unaffected by decerebration.
  • A short-latency reflex EMG burst (11-17 ms) was observed in SOL and LG muscles; decerebration increased the EMG burst area by 2-3 fold.
  • Decerebration also revealed a second, delayed force increase (60-80 ms) of reflex origin, typically absent in normal cats, and altered postural responses.

Conclusions:

  • Decerebration enhances the spinal stretch reflex excitability in ankle extensor muscles, as evidenced by increased EMG activity and a delayed force response.
  • The brainstem plays a significant role in modulating the gain of the stretch reflex, influencing both the neural and mechanical components of the response.
  • These findings provide insights into the neural control of posture and the effects of brainstem lesions on motor reflexes.