THE RESPONSE TO VIBRATION OF THE END ORGANS OF MAMMALIAN MUSCLE SPINDLES

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Abstract
An analysis of the peripheral characteristics of spindle end-organs of cat''s gastrocnemius and soleus muscles was undertaken by testing: (a) their ability to follow rapid, small amplitude vibration applied to the spindle''s site (as revealed by a 1:1 impulse discharge/vibration frequency ratio) and (b) the degree of slowing of discharge at completion of the dynamic phase of a rapid stretch applied to the whole muscle. These responses were correlated with the afferent fiber conduction velocity. The following patterns of response were determined: (a) vibrator responsiveness, high slowing, high conduction velocity; (b) vibrator responsiveness, low slowing, low conduction velocity; (c) vibrator non-responsiveness, low slowing, low conduction velocity; and (d) vibrator responsiveness, high slowing, low conduction velocity. In view of the anatomical arrangements of spindle end-organs, these physiological responses were associated with the end-organs of nuclear bags (a), central nuclear chains (b), polar nuclear chains (c) and myotubes (d), respectively.

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