Cervical muscle function is disturbed in patients with persistent pain related to a whiplash associated disorder (WAD) but little is known about neck extensor muscle morphometry in this group. This study used magnetic resonance imaging to measure relative cross-sectional area (rCSA) of the rectus capitis posterior minor and major, multifidus, semispinalis cervicis and capitis, splenius capitis ...

The effects of liquid fluorocarbons as bathing media were determined by use of in vitro neuromuscular preparations. Rat hemidiaphragms were bathed in either oxygenated fluorocarbon (FC) emulsion or standard oxygenated Krebs solution. Contractile force in response to simple supramaximal nerve stimuli as well as to high frequency stimulation was greater, while twitch:tetanus ratio was smaller in ...

Introduction: The design and structural characterization of mini-proteins with a compact, folded structure provide insight into the complex architecture of proteins today and has long been a challenging issue in structural- functional studies. Alpha neurotoxins from snake venom have a distinct folded structure comprised of a disulphide core and three loops or “fingers” each of these loops are c...

Increasingly complex models of the neck neuromusculature need detailed muscle and kinematic data for proper validation. The goal of this study was to measure the electromyographic activity of superficial and deep neck muscles during tasks involving isometric, voluntary, and reflexively evoked contractions of the neck muscles. Three male subjects (28-41 years) had electromyographic (EMG) fine wi...

Many toxins from scorpion venoms activate sodium channels, thereby enhancing neurotransmitter release. The aim of the present work was to determine if the in vivo and in vitro effects of Leiurus quinquestriatus venom (LQQ) could be ameliorated by lignocaine, a sodium channel blocker. In urethane anaesthetised rabbits, LQQ venom (0.5 mg kg(-1), i.v.) caused initial hypotension and bradycardia fo...

To reveal patterns of input from the six semicircular canals to motoneurons of various neck muscles and their relationship to the mechanical actions of individual neck muscles, patterns of input to neck motoneurons of the longissimus and the semispinalis muscle groups were investigated in the upper cervical spinal cord of anesthetized cats. Intracellular potentials were recorded from motoneuron...