title: Effects of hypoxia on muscle response to tendon vibration in humans.
abstract: Previous animal studies have shown that hypoxia markedly reduces the activation of muscle spindles. The present study was undertaken to determine whether a reduced oxygen supply to muscle affects the tonic vibration reflex (TVR) in humans. In resting healthy volunteers, the effects of inhalation of hypoxic gas, apnea, and total forearm ischemia produced by cuff inflation were studied on separate days. The TVR was recorded in flexor digitorum superficialis and the neuromuscular conduction time (CT) was measured from the compound muscle action potential; the latency and amplitude of the H reflex were also determined. TVR depression began during inhalation of the hypoxic gas, at the end of apnea, and during cuff inflation, and persisted during the recovery period. The H-reflex amplitude concomitantly increased or remained unchanged. Thus, hypoxia seems to directly alter muscle spindle reactivity. Such alterations of sensorimotor control may occur in patients suffering from respiratory or circulatory insufficiency and may contribute to their exercise limitation.
authors.affiliation: Laboratoire de Physiopathologie Respiratoire EA 2201, Institut Jean Roche, Faculté de Médecine Nord, Boulevard Pierre Dramard, 13916 Marseille, France.
authors.forename: Stéphane
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Delliaux
authors.forename: Yves
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Jammes
mesh_terms: D001049:Apnea / Q000139:chemically induced / Q000503:physiopathology*; D005260:Female; D005542:Forearm / Q000098:blood supply / Q000503:physiopathology; D006801:Humans; D000860:Hypoxia / Q000139:chemically induced / Q000503:physiopathology*; D007511:Ischemia / Q000139:chemically induced / Q000503:physiopathology*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D018482:Muscle, Skeletal / Q000502:physiology*; D010101:Oxygen Consumption; D012026:Reflex, Stretch / Q000502:physiology; D013710:Tendons / Q000502:physiology*; D014732:Vibration