[Effects of three Chinese traditional drugs on afferent discharge from single muscle spindle in toads].
OBJECTIVE
To shed some light on treatment of muscle atrophy through testing the effects of several Chinese traditional drugs that can invigorate blood circulation on the afferent discharge of muscle spindle.


METHODS
Single muscle spindle was isolated from sartorius muscle of toad. Afferent discharge from the muscle spindle was recorded using air-gap technique and effects of three Chinese traditional drugs on afferent activity of the muscle spindle were observed.


RESULTS
Ligustrazine could markedly tingle the spontaneous electrical activity of the muscle spindle, and it also showed a good dose-response relationship, while Salvia Miltiorrhiza and Safflower had no such excitative effect.


CONCLUSIONS
It is known that ligustrazine can expand blood vessels and agitate microcirculation, and this effect on the muscle spindle makes it helpful for persons with muscle atrophy.
Gao
Yun-fang
YF
Fan
Xiao-li
XL
D000818:Animals; D001001:Anura; D031187:Carthamus tinctorius / Q000737:chemistry*; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D004365:Drugs, Chinese Herbal / Q000494:pharmacology*; D004594:Electrophysiology; D009470:Muscle Spindles / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000502:physiology; D018482:Muscle, Skeletal / Q000502:physiology; D009133:Muscular Atrophy / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000517:prevention & control; D008517:Phytotherapy; D028321:Plant Preparations / Q000627:therapeutic use; D011719:Pyrazines / Q000494:pharmacology*; D027561:Salvia miltiorrhiza / Q000737:chemistry; D014665:Vasodilator Agents / Q000494:pharmacology*
D004365:Drugs, Chinese Herbal; D028321:Plant Preparations; D011719:Pyrazines; D014665:Vasodilator Agents; C017953:tetramethylpyrazine