New observations on coupling between group II muscle afferents and feline γ-motoneurones

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Abstract
Extra- or intracellular recordings were made from seventy-six γ-motoneurones of hindlimb muscles in chloralose anaesthetized cats to re-assess the coupling between secondary muscle spindle afferents (group II muscle afferents) and these neurones. The latencies of a number of responses evoked by group II muscle afferents in γ-motoneurones were shorter than minimal latencies of responses induced disynaptically in other spinal neurones. These latencies are therefore compatible with monosynaptic coupling between muscle spindle secondaries and γ-motoneurones.Responses fulfilling criteria for monosynaptically evoked responses were seen in about one third of γ-motoneurones with input from the group II muscle afferents tested (in 6 of 18 motoneurones recorded intracellularly and in 26 of 74 motoneurones recorded extracellularly). They were usually evoked from only one of the stimulated nerves, stimulation of group II afferents of other nerves being followed by responses at longer latencies.Most γ-motoneurones were excited by group II afferents from several muscles, both flexors and extensors. However, a comparison of group II input to γ-motoneurones innervating medial gastrocnemius and four other hindlimb muscles revealed differences in both incidence and sources.This study extends results of previous studies by providing evidence that some synaptic actions of group II afferents, including afferents from the same muscle, are evoked monosynaptically, and may assist in sustaining the activation of γ-motoneurones by positive feedback.