title: Modulation of the transmission in group II heteronymous pathways by tizanidine in spastic hemiplegic patients.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To investigate the effect of tizanidine (an alpha(2) noradrenergic agonist) on transmission in the interneuronal pathway coactivated by group I and group II afferents in post-stroke patients with spastic hemiplegia.
  
  
  METHODS
  Early and late facilitation of the quadriceps H reflex elicited in the common peroneal nerve--attributed to non-monosynaptic group I and group II excitation, respectively--was investigated in 14 spastic hemiplegic patients. All received a single dose of tizanidine (150 microg/kg) or placebo in randomised order at 10 day intervals. Repeated measurements were made at baseline (T0), 45-90 min, and 120 min after drug intake. Spasticity was assessed by modified Ashworth score in the quadriceps muscle and by a leg tone score calculated by the sum of the modified Ashworth score in five muscle groups.
  
  
  RESULTS
  On the spastic side a decrease in late group II and, to a lesser extent, early group I common peroneal nerve induced quadriceps H reflex facilitation occurred with tizanidine (group II, mean (SEM) difference T0-T90: 34.3 (10.2)%, p<0.001; group I, T0-T120: 19.8 (9)%, p<0.05), but not with placebo (group II, difference T0-T90: 12.5 (8)%, NS; group I, T0-T120: 3.2 (7)%, NS). Tizanidine but not placebo decreased the quadriceps muscle and global lower limb Ashworth scores (2.9 (0.2) to 1.9 (0.3), p<0.001; and 12 (0.7) to 9.5 (0.8), p<0.0001, respectively).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Enhancement of group II-group I facilitation of the quadriceps motor neurones on the spastic side of hemiplegic patients is modulated by alpha(2) noradrenergic agonists. This strengthens the view that late facilitation of quadriceps motor neurones is mediated by group II afferents and suggests that group II pathways may be involved in lower limb spasticity.
authors.affiliation: Service de Médecine Physique et de Réadaptation, CHU Rangueil, Toulouse, France.
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Maupas
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Marque
authors.forename: C F
authors.initials: CF
authors.lastname: Roques
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Simonetta-Moreau
mesh_terms: D000284:Administration, Oral; D000316:Adrenergic alpha-Agonists / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000494:pharmacology*; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D003000:Clonidine / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000031:analogs & derivatives* / Q000494:pharmacology*; D005260:Female; D006429:Hemiplegia / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000209:etiology / Q000503:physiopathology*; D006801:Humans; D007866:Leg / Q000294:innervation; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009046:Motor Neurons / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000502:physiology*; D009431:Neural Conduction / Q000187:drug effects*; D010919:Placebos; D020521:Stroke / Q000150:complications
chemical_list: D000316:Adrenergic alpha-Agonists; D010919:Placebos; C023754:tizanidine; D003000:Clonidine