Related Experiment Video
Updated: Apr 16, 2026
Application of Consistent Massage-Like Perturbations on Mouse Calves and Monitoring the Resulting Intramuscular Pressure Changes
Published on: September 20, 2019
[Changes in muscle spindle afferent discharge activities in rat soleus following hindlimb immobilization]
Xuehong Zhao1, Wenjing Zhang, Xi Zhou
1Department of Medical Function, Medical College of Hubei University of Arts and Science, Xiangyang 441053, China.E-mail: xuehong_zhao@163.com.
Objective:
To investigate the changes in the afferent discharge activities of the sensory nerve endings in muscle spindles of rats with hindlimb immobilization.
Methods:
Plaster cast was used immobilize the hindllimbs of rats. Using air-gap technique, the spontaneous discharge of the muscle spindles and its responses to perfusion with succinylcholine (0.05 mg/ml) and suspension in an extended position were observed in isolated muscle spindles from rats with hindlimb immobilization for 3, 7, and 14 days.
Results:
The muscle spindles of rat soleus showed a sharp decrease in spontaneous discharge frequency (P<0.01) and response to succinylcholine perfusion after 3 days of hindlimb immobilization (P<0.05). Significant changes of the firing rate in an extended position was observed in rats after a 14-day immobilization (P<0.01). The duration of individual spikes was significantly prolonged following hindlimb immobilization (P<0.01).
Conclusion:
Muscle spindle discharges decrease significantly in rats following hindlimb immobilization, which might be related to reduced contractile properties of the muscle spindle.
