On whether there is a direct sympathetic influence on jaw muscle spindles

Brain Res. 1981 Aug 24;219(1):162-5. doi: 10.1016/0006-8993(81)90276-6.

Abstract

Electric stimulation of the peripheral stump of cervical sympathetic nerve (0.5-5.0 sec trains at 1 msec, 6-10 V, 0.5-30 HZ) induced in jaw muscle spindle afferents: (1) decrease of discharge frequency with 0.6-2.5 sec latency, lasting 8-13 sec (in 40% of the units) possibly due to direct sympathetic innervation of spindles; and (2) subsequent modest increase of frequency, probably secondary to muscular vasoconstriction.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Adrenergic Fibers / physiology*
  • Afferent Pathways / physiology
  • Animals
  • Electric Stimulation
  • Evoked Potentials
  • Ganglia, Sympathetic / physiology*
  • Jaw / innervation*
  • Masticatory Muscles / innervation
  • Mesencephalon / physiology
  • Muscle Spindles / physiology*
  • Rabbits
  • Trigeminal Nuclei / physiology