Single fibre electromyography in various processes affecting the anterior horn cell

Stålberg, Erik; Schwartz, Martin S.; Trontelj, Janez

doi:10.1016/0022-510x(75)90166-5

Cited by 150 publications

(49 citation statements)

References 14 publications

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“…While this is always suggestive of anterior horn cell involvement, it in itself is not diagnostic since any long-standing neurogenic process will show similar potentials. Our findings go along with Stalberg's, Schwartz's and Trontelj's, (1975) observation of marked increased fibre density and potential duration on single fibre electro myography while Glatzel and Griines (1976) reported normal motor unit action potential duration in 16 patients with syringomyelia unless peripheral nerve lesions were also present.…”

Section: Discussionsupporting

confidence: 86%

Electrodiagnosis in post-traumatic syringomyelia

Benedetto¹,

Rossier

1977

Spinal Cord

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Abstract. Development of a syrinx several years post spinal cord trauma is a well-known entity and described in a number of scientific communications. Each one describes the few cases encountered with the clinical presentations; many report results of myelography with positive or negative contrast media, operative procedures, and eventual outcome as well as discussions of autopsy material. It is believed by many investigators and clinicians that surgical intervention frequently stops the progression of the syrinx and sometimes even reverses the symptomatology. Early exact diagnosis is thus paramount.Electromyography, if used judiciously, may be an important adjunct to proper diagnosis and prognosis. In a patient with previous spinal cord trauma, frequently even post-surgical procedures, the interpretation is often difficult. This paper discusses the electro diagnostic findings in three patients with post-traumatic syrinx and compares them with electro diagnostic changes observed in a spinal cord injury patient with increased symptomatology due to other causes and two patients with non-traumatic cervical syringomyelia.

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Section: Discussionsupporting

confidence: 86%

Electrodiagnosis in post-traumatic syringomyelia

Benedetto¹,

Rossier

1977

Spinal Cord

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“…Tetanic failure was observed in motor units of the medial gastrocnemius (MG) muscle (an ankle extensor) of older homozygote animals that had become extensively weakened by disease progress. A similar phenomenon occurs in human motor neuron disease, where it is observed as decrementing EMG potentials during repetitive activation of motor units (Mulder et al, 1959;Stålberg et al, 1975;Denys and Norris, 1979;Bernstein and Antel, 1981;Maselli et al, 1993). Understanding the underlying mechanisms and finding ways to inhibit tetanic failure or increase unit force are of particular interest, because tetanic failure unquestionably contributes to weakness and weakness is the major problem in motor neuron disease.…”

Section: Abstract: Neuromuscular Disease; Synaptic Transmission; Tramentioning

confidence: 86%

“…A recent paper described a trial using 3,4 DAP in humans with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis and reported some benefits, but it used evaluation methods that are difficult to interpret in terms of motor unit performance (Aisen et al, 1995). Supporting the possibility that 4AP or 3,4 DAP might have some benefit are descriptions of EMG decrementing responses during repetitive motor unit activation in human motor neuron disease (Mulder et al, 1959;Stålberg et al, 1975;Denys and Norris, 1979;Bernstein and Antel, 1981;Maselli et al, 1993), a phenomenon very similar to that seen among failing motor units in HCSMA in which, as we showed above, 4AP can increase force production. We do not know at present whether the mechanisms of motor unit failure in human and HCSMA motor units are the same.…”

Section: Possible Use Of Aminopyridine Drugs In Human Motor Neuron DImentioning

confidence: 99%

Effects of 4-Aminopyridine on Muscle and Motor Unit Force in Canine Motor Neuron Disease

et al. 1997

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Hereditary Canine Spinal Muscular Atrophy (HCSMA) is an autosomal dominant disorder of motor neurons that shares features with human motor neuron disease. In animals exhibiting the accelerated phenotype (homozygotes), we demonstrated previously that many motor units exhibit functional deficits that likely reflect underlying deficits in neurotransmission. The drug 4-aminopyridine (4AP) blocks voltagedependent potassium conductances and is capable of increasing neurotransmission by overcoming axonal conduction block or by increasing transmitter release. In this study, we determined whether and to what extent 4AP could enhance muscle force production in HCSMA. Systemic 4AP (1-2 mg/kg) increased nerve-evoked whole muscle twitch force and electromyograms (EMG) to a greater extent in older homozygous animals than in similarly aged, symptomless HCSMA animals or in one younger homozygous animal. The possibility that this difference was caused by the presence of failing motor units in the muscles from homozygotes was tested directly by administering 4AP while recording force produced by failing motor units. The results showed that the twitch force and EMG of failing motor units could be significantly increased by 4AP, whereas no effect was observed in a nonfailing motor unit from a symptomless, aged-matched HCSMA animal. The ability of 4AP to increase force in failing units may be related to the extent of failure. Although 4AP increased peak forces during unit tetanic activation, tetanic force failure was not eliminated. These results demonstrate that the force outputs of failing motor units in HCSMA homozygotes can be increased by 4AP. Possible sites of 4AP action are considered.

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“…2A), our ability to record the same motor unit at several muscle sites (Fig. 2B), suggesting a densely innervated territory, 27 the presence of units with linked or polyphasic potentials ( Fig. 2B; from these it is impossible to distinguish between central soma loss and peripheral axon loss), and records of positive sharp waves and fibrillation potentials.…”

Section: Contribution Of Motor Axon Sprouting To Force Re-mentioning

confidence: 96%