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At least 145 records · Page 8Linked to original sources
PubMed1978

Studies on the mechanism of reflex vasodilatation. The cholinergic component in the baroreceptorial reflex in the dog.

This study was designed to investigate whether the cholinergic system is involved in the genesis of the reflex vasodilatation which follows the systemic hypertension induced by fast intravenous injection of norepinephrine in the dog. Accordingly, in 7 dogs the gracilis muscle was isolated and perfused and the reflex evoked. The analysis of the integrated areas of vasodilatation after atropine pretreatment showed a significant decrease of the reflex response in the perfused circulation. In fact, the mean value of the integrated areas of vasodilatation which was 66 +/- 8 mm Hg/min in the control condition, was reduced to 45 +/- 4 mm Hg/min after administration of atropine in the gracilis artery; meanwhile the integrated areas of systemic hypertension did not show any change. Phentolamine intra-arterial administration completely abolished the reflex. These results suggest the existence of a cholinergic component in the reflex vasodilatation induced by transitory baroreceptorial stimulation.

Animals↗
PubMed1991

Straining urethral reflex: description of a reflex and its clinical significance. Preliminary report.

The present communication describes a reflex, which I call 'straining urethral reflex', and discusses its clinical significance. The study was performed on 17 healthy volunteers with a mean age of 39.6 years. The intrarectal pressure (representative of the intra-abdominal pressure) was measured by means of a balloon-tipped catheter introduced into the rectum and connected to a pressure transducer. A concentric needle electrode was introduced into the external urethral sphincter. The subject was asked to strain, and the urethral sphincter electromyographic activity and the intrarectal pressure were recorded. Two types of straining were investigated: sudden and slow. The procedure was repeated in 10 subjects after urethral sphincter infiltration with xylocaine or saline. On sudden straining, the external urethral sphincter contracted. The anesthetized sphincter did not respond, while the saline-infiltrated sphincter responded to sudden straining. Slow sustained straining did not evoke the reflex response. The latency of the reflex was calculated. The external urethral sphincter contraction on sudden straining guards against the involuntary opening of the vesical neck and urinary leak under stress conditions of a sudden increase in the intra-abdominal pressure. The reflex may prove significant in the diagnosis of micturition control disorders. It can thus be included as an investigative tool in urologic practice.

Adult↗
PubMed1994

Amount of asymmetry in grasp reflex depends on the grasp reflex of the left hand in human neonates.

Grasp-reflex strengths from right and left hands were measured in 33 human neonates. There was no significant correlation between right minus left grasp-reflex strength and grasp-reflex strength from the right hand. The grasp-reflex strength of the left hand was negatively linearly correlated with the right minus left grasp-reflex strength. It was suggested that the right brain may be the main determinant for the motor asymmetry in hands.

Brain↗
PubMed1992

[Reflex control of laryngeal functions in the cat: the effect of vibratory stimuli of the laryngeal mucosa on the laryngeal reflex].

To investigate the effect of vibratory stimuli of the subglottic mucosa on the laryngeal reflex, experiments were performed on cats anesthetized with intraperitoneal injection of a mixture of urethane and chloralose. The external branch of the superior laryngeal nerve was cut, while the internal branch of the superior laryngeal nerve (ISLN) was mounted on stimulating electrodes. Electromyograms (EMG) were recorded from the contralateral thyreoarytenoid (TA), posterior cricoarytenoid (PCA), lateral cricoarytenoid (LCA), and cricothyreoid (CT) muscles. When the ISLN was electrically stimulated, the laryngeal reflex was induced. Short latency (early) and long latency (late) responses were observed in TA, PCA, LCA, and CT. Then, vibratory stimuli were applied to the surface of the subglottic mucosa. Vibratory frequencies used in this study were varied stepwise from 100 Hz to 400 Hz, with the amplitude adjusted at 20 microns. Vibratory stimuli had no effect on early responses but did, however, exert a facilitatory effect on late responses of TA and LCA in the transitional phase from inspiration to expiration and on late responses of PCA in the inspiratory phase. After denervation of ISLN, the vibratory effect on late responses disappeared completely. No significant vibratory effect was observed on CT in any respiratory phase. These results suggest that vibratory stimuli applied to the surface of the subglottic mucosa reflexively facilitate the laryngeal reflex and that ISLN afferents and respiratory drive modulate the laryngeal reflex.

Animals↗
PubMed1991

Dilatation and closing anal reflexes. Description and clinical significance of new reflexes: preliminary report.

The present communication describes new reflexes which are called 'dilatation and closing anal reflexes', and discusses their clinical significance. The study comprised 21 healthy volunteers and 15 incontinent patients (7 with partial fecal incontinence and 8 with urinary stress incontinence). The technique comprised the introduction into the rectal neck of a balloon-tipped catheter. The balloon was inflated with air in increments of 10 ml up to 50 ml, and the EMG response of the external and urethral sphincters to balloon inflation and deflation was recorded. A new device called 'switch inflation' apparatus was used to inflate the balloon simultaneously with switching of the EMG apparatus. Rapid rectal neck inflation and deflation evoked external anal and urethral sphincter contraction. Slow and gradual inflation or deflation did not initiate the response. The anesthetized external anal sphincter did not respond to the stimulus, while the saline-infiltrated sphincter responded. The latency of the reflexes was recorded. In fecal incontinent patients, the external anal sphincter, on rapid rectal neck inflation or deflation, showed lower EMG activity and longer latency than in normal volunteers; the external urethral sphincter responded as in normal volunteers. In urinary stress incontinent patients, the external anal sphincter responded normally for both rectal neck inflation and deflation. The external urethral sphincter showed lower EMG activity and prolonged latency than normal on rectal neck inflation; it did not respond to deflation. The dilatation and closing reflexes seem to play a role in fecal and urinary continence as well as in fecal sampling. Detectable changes in latency or amplitude of the evoked response indicate a defect in the reflex pathway.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Adult↗
PubMed1990

[Generalized nocifensor reflexes--II. A modified reflex pattern caused by functional disorders of the thalamus].

In the past, clinically relevant diagnostic procedures using nocifensive reflexes have been restricted mainly to ascertaining the functional status of the efferent or afferent portion of the reflex arc. The method described here, which evoked global nocifensive reflexes, permits differentiated conclusions to be drawn regarding possible supraspinal influences on nocifension. The reflex patterns yielded by the procedure can provide information regarding the functional status of the formatio reticularis, which is subject to modulatory influences of the pallidostriatum and thalamus. The results show that specific, pathohistologically confirmed lesions of the thalamus de-inhibit the formatio reticularis for motor reticulospinal activity and that this is reflected in the nocifensive pattern. Thus, the nocifensive reflex on the contralateral side to the thalamic process is stronger and has a shorter latent time than that on the clinically healthy side. This phenomenon has so far been confirmed on all patients with an impaired thalamus function.

Humans↗
PubMed1990

Impaired arterial baroreceptor reflex and cardiopulmonary vagal reflex in conscious spontaneously hypertensive rats.

The activity of baroreceptor reflexes and cardiopulmonary reflexes was examined in conscious spontaneously hypertensive rats (SHR) and age-matched Wistar-Kyoto (WKY) rats. The baroreceptor heart rate reflex, elicited by phenylephrine- and nitroprusside-induced changes in blood pressure, had a reduced range and lower heart rate plateau in SHR than in WKY rats, which suggests impaired vagal control of the heart rate in SHR. Cardiopulmonary receptor reflex activity was assessed by intravenous injections of phenyldiguanide which evoke the Bezold-Jarisch reflex. Phenyldiguanide elicited dose-dependent bradycardic and hypotensive responses in WKY rats, but these were significantly attenuated in SHR. This is the first demonstration of impaired Bezold-Jarisch responses in conscious SHR and provides evidence of both impaired vagally mediated arterial baroreceptor activity and impaired cardiopulmonary receptor activity in this rat strain.

Animals↗
PubMed1990

[Elimination of the obturator reflex as a specific indication for dilute solutions of etidocaine. A study of the suitability of a local anesthetic for reflex elimination in the 3-in-1 block technic].

Direct stimulation of the obturator nerve by the electroresectoscope during transurethral resection of tumors in lateral bladder regions is possible under regional or general anaesthesia without muscle relaxation. The resulting obturator reflex may lead to perforation of the bladder. Two different regional techniques can be used to interrupt the obturator reflex arc: (1) separate block of the obturator nerve; or (2) the "3-in-1 block" (Winnie). In the present study elimination of the obturator reflex was carried out by "3-in-1 block" with diluted solutions of etidocaine in 55 cases. Venous plasma levels of etidocaine were measured in 9 patients after application of etidocaine 0.5% (unilateral 30 ml and bilateral 60 ml). Samples were taken 10, 20, 30, 40, 60, and 120 min after the "3-in-1 block". RESULTS. The "3-in-1 block" with diluted etidocaine produced excellent motor block of the obturator nerve. Clinical side effects did not occur. Plasma peak levels reached 2.2 micrograms/ml; the protein binding rate was 85%-95%. DISCUSSION. Elimination of the obturator reflex is the only specific motor nerve block in anesthesia. Diluted etidocaine solutions seem to be adequate: irrespective the technique used for eliminating the reflex, diluted etidocaine produces a good effect and permits a dosage reduction compared with other local anesthetics. It is possible to block the obturator nerve bilaterally by "3-in-1 block" or unilaterally by "3-in-1 block" in combination with epidural analgesia within the recommended dose limits.

Acetanilides↗
PubMed1979

Somatosensory evoked potential of the stretch-reflex (T-reflex).

Averaging of EEG recorded monopolarly from C3, contralateral to the activated limb, in the stretch reflex shows the presence of somatosensory evoked potential (SSEP) with characteristic shape: four constant waves--P29, N84, P202 and N294, and four inconstant waves--N31, P74, P99 and N123. Comparison of this SSEP with the SSEP in children, evoked in the stretch reflex, shows shorter latencies of the waves in adults. On the basis of data from the different series of experiments, it is assumed that kinesthetic signalization plays a dominant role in the genesis of SSEP of the T-reflex. Studies have shown that SSEP of the T-reflex is succeptible to habituation upon long repetition of the stretch reflex.

Achilles Tendon↗
PubMed1982

Recovery cycle of the reflex-evoked muscle potential (H reflex): excitability of spinal motor neurons in the healthy dog.

The recovery cycle for a reflex-evoked muscle potential has been demonstrated in the healthy dog, using the ulnar nerve-interosseous muscle preparation. The amplitude of a test response, at various time intervals (2 to 1,000 ms) after a conditioning response, was compared with the amplitude of the unconditioned response. The resulting ratio was plotted as a function of interstimulus interval. The curve was shown to consist of 3 distinct phases. The 1st phase, called the phase of early responsiveness, lasted from 2 to 20 ms and was characterized by a rapid decrease in amplitude of the test response. The 2nd phase, the phase of unresponsiveness, was characterized by a reduced response, and eventually no response which occurred between 20 and 80 ms. The 3rd phase, the phase of late responsiveness, began with a small test reflex amplitude at 80 ms and increased to 200 ms where it plateaued thereafter. Between 200 and 1,000 ms, there was no significant change in amplitude. Only at 2 ms, where the conditioning and test responses were so close together that they fused, did the mean amplitude of the test response exceed the mean unconditioned response. The reflex-evoked muscle potential recovery curve provides additional proof that the reflex is the equivalent of the H-reflex, and it provides a quantitative measure of spinal cord lower motor neuron excitability in the dog.

Animals↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Admittance values associated with the acoustic reflex and reflex decay.

Acoustic stapedial reflexes were elicited from 10 normal S's in each of three age groups. Susceptance and conductance values were measured for each subject in both the unreflexed and reflexed states and at 10-sec intervals during a continuous, reflex-sustaining stimulation with pure tones. Percentage of reflex decay over time was noted for each group and as a function of stimulus frequency and measurement mode. No significant age group differences were noted. Significant stimulus frequency and measurement mode differences were presented to represent "normal" reflex decay.

Adult↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Interactions between homogeneous conditioned motor reflexes during conditioned reflex switching: transfer of learning and interference.

Studies in rabbits of the time course of the formation of conditioned reflex switching of homogeneous reflexes showed that learning involved three main stages, characterized by the extent of stability of the conditioned reflexes, their interaction, and the level of switching. Formation of conditioned reflex switching was found to involve transfer of motor learning and interference of motor reflexes.

Animals↗
PubMed2001

Medial prefrontal lesions attenuate conditioned reflex facilitation but do not affect prepulse modification of the eyeblink reflex in rabbits.

Conditioned reflex facilitation occurs when the amplitude of the eyeblink (EB) unconditioned reflex (UR) is increased as a result of prior pavlovian conditioning. Prepulse modification of the EB reflex is produced by preceding the unconditioned stimulus (US) by a brief low-level neutral stimulus. This study examined both conditioned EB facilitation and prepulse modification in rabbits with either medial prefrontal (mPFC) lesions or sham lesions. Conditioned reflex facilitation was assessed by comparing EB UR amplitude prior to and after pavlovian EB conditioning. Animals that received CS/US paired presentations showed evidence of conditioned reflex facilitation, but animals with unpaired training did not. However, this increase in EB UR magnitude in the paired groups was smaller in animals with mPFC lesions, compared to those with sham lesions. In two subsequent experiments different groups of sham and lesion animals received an intense burst of white noise preceded by tones with different interstimulus interval durations to assess prepulse modification. Unlike conditioned facilitation, prepulse modification was unaffected by mPFC lesions.

Acoustic Stimulation↗
PubMed1990

Electrically and mechanically elicited blink reflexes in infants and children--maturation and recovery curves of blink reflex.

We studied the electrically and mechanically elicited blink reflexes in 2 groups of subjects, i.e., 237 newborn infants, 25-41 weeks of conceptional age, and 74 children, 1 month-12 years of age. In infants after 25 weeks of conceptional age we could usually induce the early response (R1) and ipsilateral late response (R2), while the contralateral late response (R2') of the electrical blink reflex became apparent after 33 weeks of conceptional age and the frequency of the appearance of R2' reached more than 60% after 38 weeks of conceptional age. After 7 months of age, R2' was usually observed. The R1 latency in full-term newborns was close to adult values, while the R2 and R2' latencies reached adult values at 7-12 years. After 1 year of age the latency of the R2 mechanical blink reflex had a tendency to be shorter than that of the electrical blink reflex. Under 35 weeks of conceptional age, the recovery curves of the blink reflex were considerably different from those of full-term infants, and premature infants showed little or no evidence of inhibition. These results indicate the absence of inhibitory interneurones in premature infants.

Blinking↗
PubMed2004

Artificial autonomic reflexes: using functional electrical stimulation to mimic bladder reflexes after injury or disease.

Autonomic reflexes controlling bladder storage (continence) and emptying (micturition) involve spinal and supraspinal nerve pathways, with complex mechanisms coordinating smooth muscle activity of the lower urinary tract with voluntary muscle activity of the external urethral sphincter (EUS). These reflexes can be severely disrupted by various diseases and by neurotrauma, particularly spinal cord injury (SCI). Functional electrical stimulation (FES) refers to a group of techniques that involve application of low levels of electrical current to artificially induce or modify nerve activation or muscle contraction, in order to restore function, improve health or rectify physiological dysfunction. Various types of FES have been developed specifically for improving bladder function and while successful for many urological patients, still require substantial refinement for use after spinal cord injury. Improved knowledge of the neural circuitry and physiology of human bladder reflexes, and the mechanisms by which various types of FES alter spinal outflow, is urgently required. Following spinal cord injury, physical and chemical changes occur within peripheral, spinal and supraspinal components of bladder reflex circuitry. Better understanding of this plasticity may determine the most suitable methods of FES at particular times after injury, or may lead to new FES approaches that exploit this remodeling or perhaps even influence the plasticity. Advances in studies of the neuroanatomy, neurophysiology and plasticity of lumbosacral nerve circuits will provide many further opportunities to improve FES approaches, and will provide "artificial autonomic reflexes" that much more closely resemble the original, healthy neuronal regulatory mechanisms.

Animals↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Changes of reflexes in vasoconstrictor neurons supplying the cat hindlimb following chronic nerve lesions: a model for studying mechanisms of reflex sympathetic dystrophy?

The generic term 'reflex sympathetic dystrophy' describes a clinical syndrome which sometimes develops after traumata at the extremities with lesions of nerves or --more rarely--after other events. The syndrome consists of the following components: pain (hyperpathia, allodynia), trophic changes of skin and deep tissues, dysregulation of sweating and cutaneous blood flow of the extremity concerned. It is assumed that all symptoms are produced by abnormal sympathetic activity. Interruption of the sympathetic activity to the affected extremity abolishes most of the pain and may lead to remission of the trophic changes. The hypothesis is that the trauma with lesion of the primary afferent axons leads subsequently to an abnormal state of the primary afferent neurons and to distorted processing of information in the spinal cord. As a consequence of this abnormal central state the activity in the sympathetic (vasomotor and sudomotor) supply to the affected extremity is distorted. The results are pain, trophic changes and dysregulations of autonomic effector organs. In some yet unknown way a vicious circle between periphery and spinal cord is established (afferent leads to spinal cord leads to sympathetic leads to afferent). This hypothesis was the starting point for analysis of the reflex pattern in postganglionic vasoconstrictor neurons supplying the cat hindlimb after chronic nerve lesions performed in the same limb (cutting and ligating a skin nerve; suturing the central stump of a skin nerve to the peripheral stump of a muscle nerve). The results obtained show that the reciprocity of the reflex pattern which is normally observed between cutaneous and muscle vasoconstrictor neurons is lost in many animals. Cutaneous vasoconstrictor neurons are very similar to muscle vasoconstrictor neurons in their reactions to stimulation of arterial baroreceptors and chemoreceptors. If the same sequence of events also occurs in patients with reflex sympathetic dystrophy, it could explain the dysregulation of blood flow through skin and also the occurrence of trophic changes in the limb.

Animals↗
PubMed1986

Ventilation and the oculocardiac reflex. Prevention of oculocardiac reflex during surgery for squints: role of controlled ventilation and anticholinergic drugs.

A randomised prospective study was carried out in children undergoing surgery for squint correction, to determine the value of controlled ventilation as a prophylaxis against the occurrence of the oculocardiac reflex. One hundred patients anaesthetised with nitrous oxide/oxygen and halothane were randomly assigned to either ventilated or spontaneously breathing groups of 50 each. Half the patients in each group received glycopyrronium 7.5 micrograms/kg intravenously at the time of induction of anaesthesia. Heart rate, rhythm, blood pressure and end tidal CO2 concentration were monitored throughout. A positive oculocardiac reflex, defined as a fall in heart rate of 20% or more and/or the occurrence of dysrhythmias, was observed in 72% of spontaneously breathing patients and in 100% of ventilated patients not receiving prophylactic intravenous glycopyrronium. The incidence of a positive reflex in patients receiving glycopyrronium was 10% (4 and 16% respectively in spontaneously breathing and ventilated patients). It is concluded that controlled ventilation is of no value as a preventive measure against the occurrence of the oculocardiac reflex in patients undergoing squint surgery and that prophylaxis is safely achieved with the use of intravenous glycopyrronium.

Adolescent↗
PubMedDate not supplied

The Hoffmann reflex (H-reflex) in senile dementia of the Alzheimer's type--preliminary results.

The Hoffmann reflex (H-reflex) and direct motor response (M) were investigated (latency, amplitude and excitability curves were analyzed) in patients with senile dementia of the Alzheimer's type (SDAT). M responses had similar latencies in SDAT patients and old control subjects. H reflex latencies were similar in SDAT patients and old control subjects but longer than in younger controls. The H max/M max ratio was also lower in SDAT patients and old control subjects than in younger controls. The excitability curve of the H-reflex (using a double shock procedure) in SDAT patients was lower than in non-demented old controls for all values of the interstimulus intervals.

Aged↗