title: Characteristics of H- and M-waves recorded from rat forelimbs.
abstract: The Hoffman reflex (H-reflex) is a useful tool for studying the functional aspects of the spinal cord without anesthesia and/or damage to the body. H-reflex studies are performed mainly in the hindlimbs. The purpose of the present study was to evaluate the characteristics of the H-reflex in the forelimbs and hindlimbs in rats anesthetized with ketamine-HCl. H- and M-waves were recorded from the interosseous muscles after electrical stimulation of the n. lateral plantar of the hindlimb and n. medialis of the forelimb. Hmax/Mmax values were significantly smaller in the forelimbs than in the hindlimbs. Furthermore, paired-pulse attenuation tended to be stronger in the forelimbs than in the hindlimbs. These findings suggest that control by descending and/or propriospinal pathways is stronger in the forelimbs than in the hindlimbs in rats.
authors.affiliation: Osaka Veterinary Referral Center, Osaka City 537-0025, Japan.
authors.forename: Taisei
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Hosoido
authors.forename: Sachiko
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Motoyama
authors.forename: Megumi
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Goto
authors.forename: Futoshi
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Mori
authors.forename: Takamitsu
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Tajima
authors.forename: Hajime
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Hirata
authors.forename: Naomi
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Wada
mesh_terms: D000200:Action Potentials / Q000502:physiology; D000818:Animals; D004525:Efferent Pathways / Q000502:physiology; D004558:Electric Stimulation; D005260:Female; D005552:Forelimb / Q000294:innervation / Q000502:physiology*; D005684:Gait / Q000502:physiology; D006181:H-Reflex / Q000502:physiology*; D006614:Hindlimb / Q000294:innervation / Q000502:physiology*; D008124:Locomotion / Q000502:physiology; D008297:Male; D009046:Motor Neurons / Q000502:physiology; D009119:Muscle Contraction / Q000502:physiology; D018482:Muscle, Skeletal / Q000294:innervation / Q000502:physiology*; D009415:Nerve Net / Q000502:physiology*; D009434:Neural Pathways / Q000502:physiology; D010525:Peripheral Nerves / Q000502:physiology; D051381:Rats; D017208:Rats, Wistar; D013116:Spinal Cord / Q000502:physiology*