Hostname: page-component-745bb68f8f-s22k5 Total loading time: 0 Render date: 2025-01-22T11:57:17.077Z Has data issue: false hasContentIssue false
  • English
  • Français

Neurophysiological Changes Following Spinal Cord Lesions in Man

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  18 September 2015

P. Ashby  and
M. Verrier
P. Ashby*
Affiliation:
Neurophysiology Unit, Toronto Western Hospital, Toronto Canada
M. Verrier
Affiliation:
Neurophysiology Unit, Toronto Western Hospital, Toronto Canada
*
Toronto Western Hospital, 25 Leonard Ave., Toronto Canada
Rights & Permissions [Opens in a new window]

Summary:

Core share and HTML view are not available for this content. However, as you have access to this content, a full PDF is available via the ‘Save PDF’ action button.

A study has been made of the neurophysiological changes that follow spinal cord lesions in man. The Achilles tendon reflex (ATR) is used to estimate transmission in the la monosynaptic pathway, and the tonic vibration reflex (TVR) to estimate transmission in the la polysynaptic pathway to motoneurons. The inhibition of the H reflex by vibration is used as an estimate of presynaptic inhibition of the la monosynaptic pathway. Immediately following a complete lesion of the spinal cord presynaptic inhibition of the la monosynaptic pathway appears to be greatly increased. This enhanced inhibition may last several months but it eventually declines and in some instances becomes less than normal. Transmission in the la polysynaptic pathway is permanently abolished by a complete spinal lesion. A hypothesis is developed from these findings to explain the evolution of some of the clinical features that follow complete spinal lesions in man. Distinct differences are observed when the spinal lesion is incomplete. Transmission in the la polysynaptic pathway may be preserved and there may be no increase in presynaptic inhibition. These differences may depend upon the integrity of certain spinal long tracts which cannot be tested clinically.

Type
Research Article
Information
Canadian Journal of Neurological Sciences , Volume 2 , Issue 2 , May 1975 , pp. 91 - 100
Copyright
Copyright © Canadian Neurological Sciences Federation 1975

References

Arcangel, C.S., Johnston, R.and Bishop, B. (1971). The Achilles tendon reflex and the H-response during and after tendon vibration. Physical Therapy, 51, 889–905.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Ashby, P., Verrier, M., andLightfoot, E., (1974). Segmental reflex pathways in spinal shock and spinal spasticity in man. Journal of Neurology, Neurosurgery and Psychiatry, 37, 1352–1360.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Barnes, C.D., Joynt, R.J., and Schottellus, B.A. (1962). Motoneuron resting potentials in spinal shock. American Journal of Physiology, 203, 1113–1116.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Barnes, C.D. and Pompeiano, O. (1970). Inhibition of monosynaptic extensor reflex attributable to presynaptic depolarization of the group la afferent fibers produced by vibration of flexor muscle. Archives Italiennes de Biologie, 108, 233–258.Google Scholar
Brown, M.C., Engberg, I. and Matthews, P.B.C. (1967). The relative sensitivity to vibration of muscle receptors in the cat. Journal of Physiology (London), 192, 773–800.Google Scholar
Burke, D., Andrews, C.J. andLance, J.W. (1972). Tonic vibration reflex in spasticity, Parkinson’s disease and normal subjects. Journal of Neurology, Neurosurgery and Psychiatry, 35, 477–486.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Burke, D. and Lance, J.W. (1973). Studies of the reflex effects of primary and secondary spindle endings in spasticity. In New Developments in Electromyography and Clinical Neurophysiology, Vol. 3, pp.475–495.Edited by Desmedt, J.E.. Karger: Basel.Google Scholar
Cooper, S. and Sherrington, C.S. (1932). Degeneration of peripheral nerves after spinal transection in the monkey. Journal of Physiology (London), 77, 18–19p.Google Scholar
Degail, P., Lance, J.W. and Neilson, P.D. (1966). Differential effects on tonic and phasic reflex mechanisms produced by vibration of muscles in man. Journal of Neurology, Neurosurgery and Psychiatry, 29, 1–11.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Delwaide, P.J. (1973). Human monosynaptic reflexes and presynaptic inhibition. In New Developments in Electromyography and Clinical Neurophysiology, Vol. 3, pp. 508–522. Edited by Desmedt, J.E.Karger: Basel.Google Scholar
Diamantopoulos, E. and Zander Olsen, P.Z. (1967). Excitability of motor neurones in spinal shock in man. Journal of Neurology, Neurosurgery and Psychiatry, 30, 427–431.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Dietrichson, P. (1971). Phasic ankle reflex in spasticity and parkinsonian rigidity. Acta Neurologica Scandinavica, 83, 425–426.Google Scholar
Dietrichson, P. (1973). The role of the fusimotor system in spasticity and parkinsonian rigidity. In New Developments in Electromyography and Clinical Neurophysiology, Vol. 3, pp. 496–507.Edited by Desmedt, J.E.. Karger: Basel.Google Scholar
Dindar, F. and Verrier, M. (1975). Studies on the receptor responsible for vibration induced inhibition of monosynaptic reflexes in man. Journal of Neurology, Neurosurgery and Psychiatry, 38, (in press).CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Edstrom, L. (1970). Selective changes in the sizes of red and white muscle fibres in upper motor lesions and parkinsonism. Journal of the Neurological Sciences, 11, 537–550.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Fulton, J.F., Liddell, E.G.T. and Rioch, D. McK. (1930). The influence of experimental lesions of the spinal cord upon the knee-jerk. 1- Acute Lesions. Brain, 53, 311–326.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Gillies, J.D., Burke, D.J. and Lance, J.W. (1971). Tonic vibration reflex in the cat. Journal of Neurophysiology, 34, 252–262.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Gillies, J.D., Lance, J.W., Neilson, P.D. and Tassinari, C.A. (1969). Presynaptic inhibition of the monosynpatic reflex by vibration. Journal of Physiology (London), 205, 329–339.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Guttman, L. (1970). Spinal shock and reflex behaviour in man. Paraplegia, 8, 100–110.Google Scholar
Hagbarth, K.-E. (1973). The effect of muscle vibration in normal man and in patients with motor disorders. In New Developments in Electromyography and Clinical Neurophysiology, Vol. 3, pp. 428–443. Edited by Desmedt, J.E.. Karger: Basel.Google Scholar
Hagbarth, K.E. and Eklund, G. (1966). Motor effects of vibratory stimuli in man. In Muscular afferents and motor control, pp. 177–186. Edited by Granit, R., Almqvist and Wiksell: Stockholm.Google Scholar
Herman, R. (1970). The myotatic reflex. Clinico-physiological aspects of spasticity and contracture. Brain, 93,273–312.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Homma, S., Kanda, K. and Mizote, M. (1973). Role of mono- and polysynaptic reflex arcs during the stretch reflex. Electroencephalography and Clinical Neurophysiology, 34, 799.Google Scholar
Hunt, R.S., Meltzer, G.E. and Landau, W.M. (1963). Fusimotor function. Part I. Spinal shock of the cat and the monkey. Archives of Neurology, 9, 120–126.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Lance, J.W., Burke, D. and Andrews, C.J. (1973). The reflex effects of muscle vibration. In New Developments in Electromyography and Clinical Neurophysiology, Vol. 3, pp. 444–462. Edited by Desmedt, J.E. .Karger: Basel.Google Scholar
Lance, J.W., Degail, P. and Neilson, P.D. (1966). Tonic and phasic spinal cord mechanisms in man. Journal of Neurology, Neurosurgery and Psychiatry, 29, 535–544.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Landau, W.M. (1969). Spasticity and Rigidity. In Recent Advances in Neurology. PP. 1–32. Edited by Plum, F., E.A. Davis: Philadelphia.Google Scholar
Landau, W.M. and Clare, M.H.(1959). The plantar reflex in man, with special reference to some conditions where the extensor response is unexpectedly absent. Brain, 82, 321–355.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Liddell, E.G.T. (1934). Spinal shock and some features in isolation alteration of the spinal cord in cats. Brain, 57, 386–400.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Lloyd, D.P.C. (1943). Conduction and synaptic transmission of the reflex response to stretch in spinal cats. Journal of Neurophysiology, 6, 317–326.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Lundberg, A. and Vyklicky, L. (1966). Inhibition of transmission to primary afferents by electrical stimulation of the brain stem. Archives Italiennes de Biologie, 104, 86–97.Google ScholarPubMed
McCouch, G.P., Austin, G.M., Liu, C.N. and Liu, C.Y. (1958). Sprouting as a cause of spasticity. Journal of Neurophysiology, 21, 205–216.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Matthews, P.B.C. (1966). The reflex excitation of the soleus muscle of the decerebrate cat caused by vibration applied to its tendon. Journal of Physiology (London), 184, 450–472.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Meltzer, G.E., Hunt, R.S. and Landau, W.M. (1963). Fusimotor Function. Part III The spastic monkey. Archives of Neurology, 9, 133–136.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Merton, P.A. (1954) Interaction between muscle fibres in a twitch. Journal of Physiology (London), 124, 311–324.Google Scholar
Nyboar, V.J. and Johnson, H.E. (1971). Electromyographic findings in lower extremities of patients with traumatic quadriplegia. Archives of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, 52, 256–259.Google Scholar
Perot, P.L. (1973). The clinical use of somatosensory evoked potentials in spinal cord injury. In Clinical Neurosurgery. Proceedings of the Congress of Neurological Surgeons 1972, pp.367–381. Williams and Wilkins: Baltimore.Google ScholarPubMed
Riddoch, G. (1917). The reflex functions of the completely divided spinal cord in man, compared with those associated with less severe lesions. Brain, 40, 264–402.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Ruch, T.C. and Watts, J.W. (1934). Reciprocal changes in activity of the fore limbs induced by post-brachial “cold block” of the spinal cord. American Journal of Physiology, 110, 362–375.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Sato, M. (1961). Response of Pacinian corpuscles to sinusoidal vibration. Journal of Physiology (London), 159, 391–409.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Sherrington, C.S. (1910). The integrative action of the nervous system, p. 241. Archibald Constable & Co.: London.Google Scholar
Takamori, M. (1967). H-Reflex study in upper motoneuron diseases. Neurology, 17, 32–40.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Van Harreveld, A. (1940). On spinal shock. American Journal of Physiology, 129, 515–523.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Veale, J.L., Rees, S. and Mark, R.F. (1973). Renshaw cell activity in normal and spastic man. In New Developments in Electromyography and Clinical Neurophysiology, Vol.3, pp. 523–573. Edited by Desmedt, J.E.Karger: Basel.Google Scholar
Weaver, R.A., Landau, W.M. and Higgins, J.F. (1963). Fusimotor function. Part II Evidence of fusimotor depression in human spinal shock. Archives of Neurology, 9, 127–132.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Zander Olsen, P.Z. and Diamantopoulos, E. (1967). Excitability of spinal motor neurones in normal subjects and patients with spasticity, parkinsonian rigidity, and cerebellar hypotonia. Journal of Neurology, Neurosurgery and Psychiatry, 30, 325–331.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Zapata, P. (1966). Peripheral and central factors in the pathophysiology of spinal shock. Acta Physiologica Latino America, 16, 266–277.Google ScholarPubMed