Summary
The action of diazepam has been examined in 18 healthy subjects by studying the correlation between electromyographically recorded mean voltage and isometric tension in skeletal muscle. A significantly increased slope of voltage tension curves was found after giving diazepam, i.e. the mean voltage at corresponding isometric tensions was about 20% higher. This finding is probably due to an action of the compound on contractile mechanisms.
Zusammenfassung
An Hand der Korrelation zwischen elektrischer Aktivität und isometrischer Spannung wurde die Wirkung von Diazepam auf den Skeletmuskel bei 18 gesunden Versuchspersonen studiert. Nach Diazepam wurde eine signifikante Zunahme der Steilheit der Regressionsgeraden gefunden, für eine bestimmte isometrische Spannung war die elektrische Aktivität um ca. 20% höher als vorher. Es wird eine direkte Wirkung der Substanz auf die kontraktilen Mechanismen postuliert.
This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.
Similar content being viewed by others
References
Balzer, H., Makinose, M., Hasselbach, W.: The inhibition of the sarcoplasmic calcium pump by prenylamine, reserpine, chlorpromazine and imipramine. Naunyn-Schmiedebergs Arch. exp. Path. Pharmak. 260, 444–455 (1968).
Bayer, H., Flechtenmacher, C.: Ermüdung und Aktionsstromspannung bei der isometrischen Muskelkontraktion des Menschen. Arbeitsphysiologie 14, 261–270 (1950).
Buchthal, F.: An introduction to electromyography. 43 pp. Gyldendal, København: Scandinavian University Books 1957.
—: Electrophysiological aspects of myopathy with particular reference to progressive muscular dystrophy. In: Muscular dystrophy in man and animals. Eds. Bourne, G. H., and Golarz, Ma. N. p. 193–262. Basel-New York: Karger 1963.
— Spontaneous electrical activity of human muscle. Electroenceph. clin. Neurophysiol. 20, 321–336 (1966).
De Silva, J. A. F., Koechlin, B. A., Bader, G.: Blood level distribution pattern of diazepam and its major metabolite in man. J. pharm. Sci. 55, 692–702 (1966).
Edward, R. G., Lippold, O. C. J.: The relation between force and integrated electrical activity in fatigued muscle. J. Physiol. (Lond.) 132, 677–681 (1956).
Hamilton, J. T.: Muscle relaxant activity of chlordiazepoxide and diazepam. Canad. J. Physiol. Pharmacol. 45, 191–199 (1967).
Henneman, E., Olson, C. B.: Relations between structure and function in the design of skeletal muscles. J. Neurophysiol. 28, 581–598 (1965).
Lenman, J. A. R.: A clinical and experimental study of the effects of exercise on the motor weakness in neurological disease. J. Neurol. Neurosurg. Psychiat. 22, 182–194 (1959a).
—: Quantitative electromyographic changes associated with muscular weakness. J. Neurol. Neurosurg. Psychiat. 22, 306–310 (1959b).
— Potter, J. L.: Electromyographic measurement of fatigue in rheumatoid arthritis and neuromuscular disease. Ann. rheum. Dis. 25, 76–84 (1966).
Lippold, O. C. J.: The relation between integrated action potentials in a human muscle and its isometric tension. J. Physiol. (Lond.) 117, 492–499 (1952).
Nathan, P. W.: The action of diazepam in neurological disorders with excessive motor activity. J. neurol. Sci. 10, 33–50 (1970).
Ngai, S. H., Tseng, D. T. C., Wang, S. C.: Effect of diazepam and other central nervous system depressants on spinal reflexes in cats: A study of site of action. J. Pharmacol. exp. Ther. 153, 344–351 (1966).
Oetliker, H.: Action of chlordiazepoxid on contractile mechanism in single fibres of frog muscle. Experientia (Basel) 26, 682 (1970).
Pletscher, A.: Zentrale Wirkungsmechanismen von Psychopharmaka. In: Funktionsabläufe unter emotionellen Belastungen. p. 25–42. Symposium Wien 1963. Basel-New York: Karger 1964.
Przybyla, A. C., Wang, S. C.: Locus of central depressant action of diazepam. J. Pharmacol. exp. Ther. 163, 439–447 (1968).
Randall, L. O., Heise, G. A., Schallek, W., Bagdon, R. E., Banziger, R., Boris, A., Moe, R. A., Abrams, W. B.: Pharmacological and clinical studies on Valium. A new psychotherapeutic agent of the benzodiazepine class. Curr. ther. Res. 3, 405–425 (1961).
Rosenfalck, A.: Evaluation of the electromyogram by mean voltage recording. In: Medical Electronics. Proc. Sec. Int. Conf. Med. Electron., Paris 1959. p. 9–12. London: Iliffe and Sons 1960.
Schmidt, R. F., Vogel, M. E., Zimmermann, M.: Die Wirkung von Diazepam auf die präsynaptische Hemmung und andere Rückenmarksreflexe. Naunyn-Schmiedebergs Arch. exp. Path. Pharmak. 258, 69–82 (1967).
Struppler, A., Struppler, E.: Neurophysiologische Untersuchungen an de-afferentierten Muskeln des Menschen. Z. Biol. 111, 438–448 (1960).
Weber, E.: Grundriß der biologischen Statistik, 6. Aufl. Jena: Fischer 1967.
Wuerker, R. B., McPhedran, A. M., Henneman, E.: Properties of motor units in a heterogenous pale muscle (M. gastrocnemius) of the cat. J. Neurophysiol. 28, 85–99 (1965).
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Ludin, H.P., Dubach, K. Action of diazepam on muscular contraction in man. Z. Neurol. 199, 30–38 (1971). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00316544
Received:
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00316544