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. 1973 Mar;47(3):595–605. doi: 10.1111/j.1476-5381.1973.tb08190.x

Adrenergic control of tendon jerk reflexes in man

Susan J Phillips, A Richens, D G Shand
PMCID: PMC1776279  PMID: 4269832

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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Selected References

These references are in PubMed. This may not be the complete list of references from this article.

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