Adrenergic control of tendon jerk reflexes in man

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Abstract
1 Tendon jerk responses and H reflexes were recorded from conscious human volunteers before and after intravenous injection of methylamphetamine, thymoxamine and propranolol, and during intravenous infusion of noradrenaline. 2 Methylamphetamine produced a significant increase in the amplitude of the tendon jerk, whereas noradrenaline had no effect in doses which caused a greater pressor response than methylamphetamine. 3 Thymoxamine produced a dose-related reduction in the tendon jerk. 4 Propranolol had no significant effect on the jerk. 5 None of these drugs significantly affected the H reflex. 6 It is suggested that central adrenoceptors, possibly α in type, exist in man, and that stimulation of these receptors facilitates tendon jerk reflexes by an action on the fusimotor system.

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