Summary
Variations in the amplitude of mono- and bipolarly measured H-reflex potentials can be influenced by muscle architecture and changes in muscle length. In the passive soleus muscle with the ankle joint fixed at 90°, the maximal-amplitude bipolar H-potentials were obtained along the midline of soleus at a distance of 2.0–4.0 cm below the insertion of the gastrocnemii on the Achilles tendon. In contrast, the optimal location of monopolar H-potentials was 5.0–8.0 cm below the gastrocnemii insertion. Stepwise passive shortening of soleus resulted in an increase in the amplitude of both H- and motor-unit potentials. This correspondence implicates peripheral factors, such as changes in muscle fibre diameter and inclination to the skin surface, as mechanisms mediating the changes in the amplitude of the potentials. Such effects necessitate caution in interpretation of the association between H-potential amplitude and monosynaptic reflex excitability.
This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.
Similar content being viewed by others
References
Binder MC, Stuart D (1980) Motor unit-muscle receptors interactions: design features of the neuromuscular control system. In: Desmedt JE (ed) Spinal and supraspinal mechanisms of motor control and locomotion, Vol 8. Karger, Basel, pp 72–98
Burke D, Gandevia SC, McKeon B (1983) The afferent volleys responsible for spinal proprioceptive reflexes in man. J Physiol (Lond) 339: 535–552
Delwaide PJ (1971) Etude experimentale de l'hyperreflexie tendineuse en clinique neurologie. Edition Arscia, Brussels
Delwaide PJ, Martinelli P, Crenna P (1980) Clinical neurophysiological measurements of spinal reflex excitability. In: Feldman RG, Young RR, Koella WP (eds) Spasticity: disordered motor control. Symposia Specialista Inc USA, pp 345–371
Dimitrov GV, Dimitrova N (1978) Extracellular potential field generated by activated short muscle fibres. Agressologie 19: 176–186
Dimitrova N (1974) Model of the extracellular potential field of a single striated muscle fibre. Electromyogr Clin Neurophysiol 14: 53–66
Gerilovsky L, Gydikov A, Radicheva N (1977) Changes in the shape of the extraterritorial potentials of tonic motor units, M-and H-responses of triceps surae muscle at different muscle length and under conditions of voluntary activation. Exp Neurol 56: 91–101
Gerilovsky L, Tsvetinov P, Trenkova G (1986) H-reflex potential shape and amplitude changes at different length of relaxed soleus muscle. Electromyogr Clin Neurophysiol 26: 641–653
Gydikov A, Kosarov D (1972a) Volume conduction of the potentials from separate motor units in human muscle. Electromyogr Clin Neurophysiol 12: 127–147
Gydikov A, Kosarov D (1972b) Extraterritorial potential field of impulses from separate motor units in human muscle. Electromyogr Clin Neurophysiol 12: 283–305
Gydikov A, Trayanova N (1986) Extracellular potentials of single active muscle fibres, effects of finite fibre length. Biol Cybern 53: 363–372
Gydikov A, Gerilovsky L, Dimitrov GV (1976a) Volume conducted motor unit potentials in human muscle triceps surae. Electromyogr Clin Neurophysiol 16: 559–586
Gydikov A, Gerilovsky L, Dimitrov GV (1976b) Dependence of the H-reflex potential shape on the extraterritorial potentials of triceps surae motor units. Electromyogr Clin Neurophysiol 16: 555–567
Gydikov A, Gerilovsky L, Radicheva N (1986a) Extracellular potential field of excited isolated muscle fibres immersed in a volume conductor. Gen Physiol Biophys 5: 125–134
Gydikov A, Gerilovsky L, Radicheva N, Trayanova N (1986b) Influence of the muscle fibre end geometry on the extracellular potentials. Biol Cybern 54: 1–8
Gydikov A, Gatev P, Gerilovsky L, Kostov K (1981) New investigations of volume conducted potentials from motor units in human m. triceps surae. Electromyogr Clin Neurophysiol 21: 487–504
Håkansson CH (1957) Action potential and mechanical response of isolated cross striated frog muscle fibres at different degrees of stretch. Acta Physiol Scand 41: 2–3: 1–17
Herman R (1969) Relationship between the H-reflex and the tendon jerk response. Electromyography 9: 359–370
Hugon M (1973) Methodology of the Hoffmann reflex in man. In: Desmedt JE (ed) New developments in electromyography and clinical neurophysiology, Vol 3. Karger, Basel, pp 277–293
Krassoievitch M, Delwaide PJ, Hugon M (1972) Modifications du réflexe Hoffmann par l'étirement: contrôle du muscle soleaire. Electroenceph Clin Neurophysiol 32: 465–470
Mark RF, Coquery J'M, Paillard J (1968) Autogenic reflex effects on slow or steady stretch of the calf muscles in man. Exp Brain Res 6: 130–145
Martin AR (1954) The effect of change in the length on conduction velocity in muscle. J Physiol (Lond) 125: 215–220
Milner-Brown HS, Stein RB, Yemm R (1973) The contractile properties of human motor units during voluntary isometric contraction. J Physiol (Lond) 228: 285–306
Trzenschik K, Loetzke HH (1969) On structural analysis of the soleus muscle in man. Anat Anz 124: 297–313
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Gerilovsky, L., Tsvetinov, P. & Trenkova, G. Peripheral effects on the amplitude of monopolar and bipolar H-reflex potentials from the soleus muscle. Exp Brain Res 76, 173–181 (1989). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00253634
Received:
Accepted:
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00253634