Short-term effects of temazepam in the EEGs of healthy volunteers.

In this study effects of temazepam on the EEGs of 10 healthy volunteers were detected using a standardized EEG registration procedure applied in a controlled environment. The EEGs were recorded both before and after administration of 20 mg temazepam as well as before and after placebo. A mean power spectrum was computed for each EEG from the 'eyes closed' condition, and the Student t test was used to detect differences in the spectra of the pre- and posttreatment EEGs in both placebo and drug conditions. For all 10 subjects the drug condition was easily distinguishable from the placebo condition based on the results of the t test.

Calculation and registration of the same motor unit action potential.

In order to increase insight into the electrical phenomena of active motor units, a computer simulation model has been developed. With this model motor unit action potentials (MUAPs) have been calculated. The model has been based on the superposition of the muscle fibre potentials of the fibres of one motor unit. For verification, calculated MUAPs have been compared with the matching recorded MUAPs. During experiments one motor unit was stimulated and the MUAP of this unit was measured with intramuscular wire electrodes. After the experiments the positions of the activated fibres of this unit and of the electrodes were determined by means of histochemical techniques. Other parameters were derived from other experiments or the literature. Using the obtained set of parameters in the model MUAPs were calculated. These MUAPs were compared with the measured MUAPs. From this comparison it has been concluded that the model predicts the MUAP to an appreciable degree. The results clearly show the dominating effect of muscle fibres in close vicinity of the electrode and the important effect of the activation moment of those fibres on the shape of the MUAP.

Force development of fast and slow skeletal muscle at different muscle lengths.

It is known that the behavior of fast and slow skeletal muscles differs, but a comparison between fast and slow muscles with different stimulation patterns at various muscle lengths is lacking. The twitch, tetanus, and double pulse responses with a number of interval times have been investigated for a fast (EDL) and a slow (soleus) muscle of the rat at three muscle lengths (in vivo, at 37 degrees C, pentobarbital sodium anesthesia). The twitches of EDL and soleus change with muscle length, but the relative form of the ascending phase is independent of muscle length. The tetanus amplitude is independent of the muscle length over a considerable length range below the optimum twitch length. The form of the ascending phases of EDL-tetanus and double pulse responses (with certain interval times between the stimuli) varies with muscle length in contrast with the comparable soleus force patterns. The maximum slope in the descending phase of all contraction patterns decreases with increasing muscle length above the optimum twitch length.

The alpha-glucan-uridine diphosphate glucosyltransferase reation for the identification of glycogen-depleted muscle fibers.

This paper decribes the use of the alpha-glucan uridine di-phosphate glucosyl transferase reaction for enhancing the contrast between glycogen depleted and non-depleted muscle fibers in the periodic acid schiff (PAS) reaction. Muscle fiber glycogen was depleted by prolonged repetitive stimulation of single motor units of the extensor digitorum longus muscle from the rat.

A study of the motor unit action potential by means of computer simulation.

In order to study the motor unit action potential a computer stimulation model was developed. It is based on the superposition of single muscle fibre potentials of the fibres belonging to the motor unit. The parameters which characterize each fibre (spatial position, diameter, and a dispersion of arrival time of the potential at the electrode) are chosen from statistical distributions which can be derived from anatomical and physiological data. The electrode type, position and dimensions can be specified. Simulated motor unit action potentials are presented in the time and frequency domain. The stimulation results refer to (1) the influence of the electrode position and dimensions with respect to the motor unit territory, (2) the meaning of this model for the study of pathological phenomena, (3) the variability of some parameters characterizing the motor unit, (4) the selectivity of uni- and bipolar electrodes and finally (5) the influence of the geometrical situation of the motor end-plates within the muscle, on the shape of motor unit action potentials.