Vibration-induced changes in vascular tone.

Longitudinal mechanical vibrations in sonic range (10-100 Hz) and of moderate amplitude (50-500) considerably reduce the contractile force of smooth muscle as well as striated muscle. Experiments elucidating the mechanism behind this effect are described. The inhibition of the contractile force is probably due to a direct interference with the action of the contractile proteins. Vibrations are supposed to increase the rate with which the interfilamentary crosslinks are broken. Thereby the number of established crosslinks is reduced and thus the force. Finally a hypothesis concerning the possible role fo this phenomenon in the pathogenesis of vibration induced Raynaud syndrome is forwarded.