Effects of adequate vestibular stimulation on locomotor activity in fore- and hindlimb muscles in the guinea pig. Movement along a vertical axis

1989 ◽  
Vol 21 (2) ◽  
pp. 144-148 ◽  
Author(s):  
V. V. Marlinskii ◽  
F. I. Tsintsabadze
Keyword(s):  
Locomotor Activity ◽  
Guinea Pig ◽  
Vertical Axis ◽  
Vestibular Stimulation ◽  
Hindlimb Muscles

Guinea pig soleus and gastrocnemius electromyograms at varying speeds, grades, and loads

1982 ◽  
Vol 52 (2) ◽  
pp. 451-457 ◽  
Author(s):  
K. R. Gardiner ◽  
P. F. Gardiner ◽  
V. R. Edgerton
Keyword(s):  
Guinea Pig ◽  
Work Load ◽  
Burst Duration ◽  
Lateral Gastrocnemius ◽  
Biochemical Alterations ◽  
Hindlimb Muscles ◽  
Slow Twitch ◽  
Fast Twitch ◽  
Grade Increase ◽  
Emg Electrodes

The purpose of the study was to describe changes that occur in the usage of fast-twitch and slow-twitch guinea pig hindlimb muscles, as estimated using chronically implanted electromyogram (EMG) electrodes, during voluntary locomotion under various conditions. Guinea pigs, in which fine wire electrodes were implanted in soleus (SOL) and lateral gastrocnemius (LG) muscles, were exercised at various speeds (13.4, 26.8, 40.2 m/min), grades (0–30%) and in some conditions loads (50–150 g) on a motor-driven treadmill. Bipolar EMG signals were rectified-averaged (RA-EMG) and analyzed for burst duration, amplitude, and the integral of each burst (IEMG). For each condition and muscle, total IEMG/min (IEMG/step x steps/min) was calculated and expressed as a percent of the maximum IEMG recorded. With increasing speed at 0% grade, the ratio of LG to SOL IEMG, each expressed as percent of maximum, remained constant at about 0.82. An increased stepping rate of 150 (at 13.4 m/min) to 225 (at 40.2 m/min) steps/min was accompanied by a 37% decrease in burst duration in LG and SOL. When the treadmill belt speed was increased from 13.4 to 4.02 m/min at 30% grade, the LG/SOL ratio increased from 0.83 to 1.03, whereas burst duration decreased by 49% (SOL) and 51% (LG). Soleus IEMG did not change significantly with increases in speed or grade; LG IEMG increased significantly with speed at 10% grade and with grade increase at the highest speed (40.2 m/min). These data provide some insight into how modifications of work load on a treadmill affect overall muscle activity and may assist in the interpretation of training-induced muscle biochemical alterations previously noted by other investigators.

Responses to vertical vestibular stimulation of neurons in the nucleus reticularis gigantocellularis in rabbits

1995 ◽  
Vol 73 (6) ◽  
pp. 2378-2391 ◽  
Author(s):  
M. H. Fagerson ◽  
N. H. Barmack
Keyword(s):  
Semicircular Canal ◽  
Head Tilt ◽  
Vertical Axis ◽  
Vestibular Nuclei ◽  
Vestibular Stimulation ◽  
Medial Aspect ◽  
Unit Recording ◽  
Nucleus Reticularis ◽  
Nucleus Reticularis Gigantocellularis ◽  
Electrolytic Lesions

1. Because the nucleus reticularis gigantocellularis (NRGc) receives a substantial descending projection from the caudal vestibular nuclei, we used extracellular single-unit recording combined with natural vestibular stimulation to examine the possible peripheral origins of the vestibularly modulated activity of caudal NRGc neurons located within 500 microns of the midline. Chloralose-urethan anesthetized rabbits were stimulated with an exponential "step" and/or static head-tilt stimulus, as well as sinusoidal rotation about the longitudinal or interaural axes providing various combinations of roll or pitch, respectively. Recording sites were reconstructed from electrolytic lesions confirmed histologically. 2. More than 85% of the 151 neurons, in the medial aspect of the caudal NRGc, responded to vertical vestibular stimulation. Ninety-six percent of these responded to rotation onto the contralateral side (beta responses). Only a few also responded to horizontal stimulation. Seventy-eight percent of the neurons that responded to vestibular stimulation responded during static roll-tilt. One-half of these neurons also responded transiently to the change in head position during exponential "step" stimulation, suggesting input mediated by otolith and semicircular canal receptors or tonic-phasic otolith neurons. 3. Seventy-five percent of the responsive neurons had a "null plane." The planes of stimulation resulting in maximal responses, for cells that responded to static stimulation, were distributed throughout 150 degrees in both roll and pitch quadrants. Five of these cells responded only transiently during exponential "step" stimulation and responded maximally when stimulated in the plane of one of the vertical semicircular canals. 4. The phase of the response of the 25% of medial NRGc neurons that lacked "null planes" gradually shifted approximately 180 degrees during sinusoidal vestibular stimulation as the plane of stimulation was shifted about the vertical axis. These neurons likely received convergent input with differing spatial and temporal properties. 5. The activity of neurons in the medial aspect of the caudal NRGc of rabbits was modulated by both otolithic macular and vertical semicircular canal receptor stimulation. This vestibular information may be important for controlling the intensity of the muscle activity in muscles such as neck muscles where the load on the muscle is affected by the position of the head with respect to gravity. Some of these neurons may also shift muscle function from an agonist to an antagonist as the direction of head tilt changes.

Properties of immobilized guinea pig hindlimb muscles

1976 ◽  
Vol 231 (5) ◽  
pp. 1520-1526 ◽  
Author(s):  
A Maier ◽  
JL Crockett ◽  
DR Simpson ◽  
IV Saubert CW ◽  
VR Edgerton
Keyword(s):  
Guinea Pig ◽  
Chloral Hydrate ◽  
Myofibrillar Protein ◽  
Contractile Properties ◽  
Specific Factor ◽  
Normal Muscle ◽  
Muscle Weight ◽  
Time To Peak ◽  
Hindlimb Muscles ◽  
Tetanic Tension

Guinea pig hindlimbs were unilaterally immobilized at resting length to evaluate histochemical, biochemical, and contractile properties of immobilized muscle. Contralateral limbs remained unrestrained. Four weeks later contractile properties were measured under chloral hydrate anesthesia. Average time-to-peak tension of the immobilized soleus was 30% less, whereas that of the gastrocnemius was not significantly changed relative to contralateral muscles. Immobilized soleus muscles acquired as much as 25% fibers with high alkaline myofibrillar adenosine triphosphatase activity; these fibers do not occur in the normal muscle. Neither the immobilized soleus nor gastrocnemius fatigued more quickly than their contralateral counterparts. In the immobilized gastrocnemius myofibrillar protein (mg/g muscle) decreased to 76% and maximum tetanic tension to 70% of contralateral values. However, tetanic tension per gram wet muscle weight or 100 mg myofibrillar protein was significantly greater in the immobilized gastrocnemius. No specific factor responsible for the increased tetanic tension could be identified.

Sign in / Sign up

Export Citation Format

Share Document