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Increased voltage of the muscle action potential of normal subjects after local cooling

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Summary

The compound muscle action potential (MAP) and the isometric twitch force of the adductor pollicis of 25 normal subjects were registered after local cooling. Intramuscular temperature ranged from 36.6 to 18.0°C. The amplitude of the MAP increased while the twitch force decreased at lower temperatures. The increase of the MAP could be caused by the effect of cooling directly at the muscle cell membrane. The decreased twitch force probably is due to an effect on the contractile apparatus.

Zusammenfassung

Bei der Myasthenia gravis führt lokale Muskelkühlung zu einer Verbesserung der neuromuskulären Funktion. Über den Einfluß lokaler Kühlung auf die gesunde menschliche Muskelfunktion ist aber wenig bekannt. Bei 25 Personen haben wir vom Adduktor pollicis das Summenaktionspotential (MAP) und die isometrische Zuckungskraft vor und nach Kühlung gemessen. Die intramuskuläre Temperatur erstreckte sich von 36,6 bis 18,0°C. Bei niedrigeren Temperaturen wurde die Amplitude des MAP unerwartet höher, während die Zuckungskraft abnahm. Diese Befunde lassen sich bei Gesunden nicht durch eine Änderung der neuromuskulären Übertragung erklären. Die Vergrößerung der Amplitude des MAP könnte mit einem Temperatureffekt direkt an der Muskelzellmembran zusammenhängen, die erniedrigte Zuckungskraft mit einer Temperatureinwirkung am kontraktilen Apparat.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Neurologische Universitätsklinik, Joseph-Schneider-Str. 11, D-8700, Würzburg, Federal Republic of Germany

    K. Ricker, G. Hertel & G. Stodieck

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  1. K. Ricker
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  2. G. Hertel
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  3. G. Stodieck
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Ricker, K., Hertel, G. & Stodieck, G. Increased voltage of the muscle action potential of normal subjects after local cooling. J. Neurol 216, 33–38 (1977). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00312813

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00312813

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