Summary
A detailed analysis of the complex dynamic response of 8 deefferented primary muscle spindle endings to ramp stretches of the extensor digitorum longus muscle (EDL) was made in anaesthetized cats. The analysis was based on Lennerstand's linear muscle spindle model, in which the dynamic peak, i.e. the peak frequency at the end of the dynamic phase of a ramp stretch, is assumed to consist of three components: a position response, a slow velocity response, and a quick velocity response. The components of the dynamic peaks analysed were fairly well correlated with the static behaviour of the primary muscle spindle endings, the latter, in turn, being regarded as an indicator of the spindle's location in the non-homogeneous extrafusal muscle. The results thus provide a satisfactory explanation of the high correlations between the static and gross dynamic behaviour of deefferented primary muscle spindle endings of the EDL previously reported from our laboratory.
Similar content being viewed by others
References
Eysel, U. Th., Grüsser, O.-J.: The impulse pattern of muscle spindle afferents. A statistical analysis of the response to static and sinusoidal stimulation. Pflügers Arch.315, 1–26 (1970)
Grüsser, O.-J., Thiele, B.: Reaktionen primärer und sekundärer Muskelspindelafferenzen auf sinusförmige mechanische Reizung. I. Variation der Sinusfrequenz. Pflügers Arch. ges. Physiol.300, 161–184 (1968)
Hasan, Z., Houk, J. C.: Analysis of response properties of deefferented mammalian spindle receptors based on frequency response. J. Neurophysiol.38, 663–672 (1975a)
Hasan, Z., Houk, J. C.: Transition in sensitivity of spindle receptors that occurs when muscle is stretched more than a fraction of a millimeter. J. Neurophysiol.38, 673–689 (1975b)
Henatsch, H.-D., Meyer-Lohmann, J., Schmidt, J., Windhorst, U.: Influence of inhomogeneous extrafusal mechanics upon the static and dynamic behaviour of primary muscle spindle endings in the cat. J. Anat. (Lond.)119, 200–202 (1974)
Lennerstrand, G.: Position and velocity sensitivity of muscle spindles in the cat. I. Primary and secondary endings deprived of fusimotor activation. Acta physiol. scand.73, 281–299 (1968)
Lennerstrand, G., Thoden, U.: Position and velocity sensitivity of muscle spindles in the cat. II. Dynamic fusimotor single-fibre activation of primary endings. Acta physiol. scand.74, 16–29 (1968)
Matthews, P. B. C., Stein, R. B.: The sensitivity of muscle spindle afferents to small sinusoidal changes of length. J. Physiol. (Lond.)200, 723–743 (1969)
Mendell, L. M., Henneman, E.: Terminals of single Ia fibers: Location, density, and distribution within a pool of 300 homonymous motoneurones. J. Neurophysiol.34, 171–187 (1971)
Meyer-Lohmann, J., Riebold, W., Robrecht, D.: Mechanical influence of the extrafusal muscle on the static behaviour of deefferented primary muscle spindle endings in cat. Pflügers Arch.352, 267–278 (1974)
Poppele, R. E., Chen, W. J.: Repetitive firing of mammalian muscle spindle. J. Neurophysiol.35, 357–364 (1972)
Schäfer, S.-S., Schäfer, S.: Die Eigenschaften einer primären Muskelspindelafferenz bei rampenförmiger Dehnung und ihre mathematische Beschreibung. Pflügers Arch.310, 206–228 (1969)
Windhorst, U., Meyer-Lohmann, J., Schmidt, J.: Correlation of the dynamic behaviour of deefferented primary muscle spindle endings with their static behaviour. Pflügers Arch.357, 113–122 (1975)
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Additional information
Supported by grants from the Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft (Schwerpunktprogramm “Rezeptorphysiologie”and SFB 33: “Nervensystetm und biologische Information”, Göttingen).
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Windhorst, U., Schmidt, J. & Meyer-Lohmann, J. Analysis of the dynamic responses of deefferented primary muscle spindle endings to ramp stretch. Pflugers Arch. 366, 233–240 (1976). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00585883
Received:
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00585883