Tendon organ sensitivity to steady-state isotonic contraction of in-series motor units in feline peroneus tertius muscle

1. Measurements have been made of the sensitivity of tendon organs to steady-state, isotonic contractions of single and groups of in-series motor units in the peroneus tertius muscle of the cat hindlimb. 2. Linear relationships were found between the Ib afferent discharge and the contractile tension generated by tetanic stimulation of single motor units. These relationships held for the fast, fatiguable (FF) units and for all but the lowest tensions generated by the slow (S) and some fast, fatigue resistant (FR) units. The sensitivity of the organs was independent of the contractile properties of the units. 3. Groups of three motor units were stimulated isotonically at low rates (around 30 Hz), but asynchronously to produce a smooth tension profile. Again, linear relationships pertained between the discharge rate and the tension, and the sensitivity was the same for different motor unit types. 4. Under isotonic conditions, therefore, the tendon organs showed linear responses to the tension with similar sensitivities, indicating that tendon organs may have the capacity to signal faithfully steady-state contractile tensions.