In another study, 4 weeks of EST of the plantarflexors increased MVC force by 19%, but there were, again, no changes in the maximal amplitude of the M wave and the H reflex evoked at rest although there were increases in reflex amplitude after additional 4 weeks of detraining (Jubeau et al. 2006).
Mechanical (clamp) or chemical (mustard oil) stimulation of the heel induced prolonged (median duration >30 min) increases in reflexes to both muscles.
The results suggest that NO may be involved not only in the normal cough reflex circuit, but also in the OVA-induced increase in cough reflex sensitivity, possibly via a different mechanism of action.
NO depletion by the non-selective NOS inhibitor L-NAME suppressed cough reflex sensitivity in non-sensitized guinea pigs and OVA-induced increase in cough reflex sensitivity in sensitized guinea pigs; however, iNOS inhibition caused by ONO1714 partially suppressed the OVA-induced increase in cough reflex sensitivity, but not the normal cough response in non-sensitized guinea pigs.
An increase in baroreceptor reflex sensitivity is consistent with an up-regulation of vagal reflexes (Schwartz et al. 1988).
ENO and eosinophil counts in BALF were significantly higher in OVA-sensitized guinea pigs compared to non-sensitized guinea pigs, suggesting that the OVA-induced increase in cough reflex sensitivity may be associated with increased NO production and eosinophil accumulation.
ONO1714 reduced the OVA-induced increase in cough reflex sensitivity only in sensitized guinea pigs, but it did not affect the normal cough reflex sensitivity in non-sensitized guinea pigs.
In this study, aspiration and corticosteroid injection of chronic arthritic knee joints led to a significant increase in flexion reflex threshold, suggesting that aberrant joint afferent output due to effusion and inflammation enhances flexion reflex excitability in humans as has previously been observed in animals.
During the third week of CHC (T0), the mean RT-SS was 15.6 ± 6.6 mA, with an average area under the EMG track of 1287.9 ± 738.1 μV*mS, while during hormone free interval (T1), mean RT-SS was found to be significantly lower at 12.8 ± 8.0 mA (T1 vs T0, p = 0.02) (Fig. 1), with a tendency toward an increase in the reflex area, which however did not reach a statistically significant level (p = 0.158).
