Adrenergic control of tendon jerk reflexes in man

1. Tendon jerk responses and H reflexes were recorded from conscious human volunteers before and after intravenous injection of methylamphetamine, thymoxamine and propranolol, and during intravenous infusion of noradrenaline.2. Methylamphetamine produced a significant increase in the amplitude of the tendon jerk, whereas noradrenaline had no effect in doses which caused a greater pressor response than methylamphetamine.3. Thymoxamine produced a dose-related reduction in the tendon jerk.4. Propranolol had no significant effect on the jerk.5. None of these drugs significantly affected the H reflex.6. It is suggested that central adrenoceptors, possibly alpha in type, exist in man, and that stimulation of these receptors facilitates tendon jerk reflexes by an action on the fusimotor system.