Journal of Applied Physiology
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J Appl Physiol 63: 639-645, 1987;
8750-7587/87 $5.00
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Journal of Applied Physiology, Vol 63, Issue 2 639-645, Copyright © 1987 by American Physiological Society

ARTICLES

Hypoxia and monosynaptic reflexes in humans

J. C. Willer, G. Miserocchi and H. Gautier
Laboratory of Clinical Neurophysiology, Faculte de Medecine Saint-Antoine, Paris, France.

The recruitment curves of the monosynaptic Hoffmann (H) reflex and of the direct motor (M) excitation of alpha-motor fibers of the posterior popliteal nerve were studied in seven human subjects in normoxic and hypoxic conditions at sea level. The amplitude of the H and M responses were determined from the computerized full-wave rectified and integrated surface electromyographic (EMG) signal derived from bipolar surface electrodes placed over the soleus muscle. Hypoxic exposure [end-tidal O2 fraction (FETO2) = 0.066 +/- 0.003 and end-tidal CO2 fraction (FETCO2) = 0.0504 +/- 0.001 (SE)] did not affect the maximal M (Mmax) response but decreased significantly (7%) the maximal H (Hmax) response. The Hmax/Mmax ratio decreased from 0.60 to 0.53. Furthermore, by fitting the rising phase of the recruitment curves of the H and M responses vs. stimulus intensity with linear regressions, hypoxia was found to produce a significant decrease of similar magnitude (6%) in the threshold of both the H and M responses with no change in slope. Using a constant stimulus strength eliciting an H response of half the maximum (H50%) of the control conditions, hypoxia resulted in a 50% increase in the amplitude of the H response within 12 min. These results suggest that the effects of hypoxia on the nervous system consist of a direct depolarizing action on the peripheral alpha-fibers and 1A sensory fibers and of a central effect on supraspinal structures affecting the spinal alpha-motoneurons.


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