Effects of three Chinese traditional drugs on muscle atrophy

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Space Med Med Eng (Beijing). 2005 Feb;18(1):16-8.

Effects of three Chinese traditional drugs on afferent discharge from

single muscle spindle in toads

Gao YF, Fan XL.

Objective: To shed some light on treatment of muscle atrophy through

testing the effects of several Chinese traditional drugs that can

invigorate blood circulation on the afferent discharge of muscle

spindle.

Method: Single muscle spindle was isolated from sartorius muscle of

toad. Afferent discharge from the muscle spindle was recorded using

air-gap technique and effects of three Chinese traditional drugs on

afferent activity of the muscle spindle were observed.

Result: Ligustrazine could markedly tingle the spontaneous electrical

activity of the muscle spindle, and it also showed a good dose-

response relationship, while Salvia Miltiorrhiza and Safflower had no

such excitative effect.

Conclusion: It is known that ligustrazine can expand blood vessels

and agitate microcirculation, and this effect on the muscle spindle

makes it helpful for persons with muscle atrophy.