Recovery in skeletal muscle contractile function after prolonged hindlimb immobilization

1985 ◽  
Vol 59 (3) ◽  
pp. 916-923 ◽  
Author(s):  
R. H. Fitts ◽  
C. J. Brimmer

Contractile properties of slow-twitch soleus (SOL), fast-twitch extensor digitorum longus (EDL), and fast-twitch superficial region of the vastus lateralis were determined in vitro (22 degrees C) in rats remobilized after prolonged (3 mo) hindlimb immobilization (IM). For all muscles the muscle-to-body weight ratio was significantly depressed by IM, and the ratios failed to completely recover even after 90 days. The contractile properties of the fast-twitch muscles were less affected by IM than the slow-twitch SOL. The IM shortened the SOL isometric twitch duration due to a reduced contraction and half-relaxation time. These parameters returned to control levels by the 14th day of recovery. Peak tetanic tension (Po, g/cm2) declined with IM by 46% in the SOL but showed no significant change in the fast-twitch muscles. After IM the SOL Po (g/cm2) recovered to control values by 28 days. The recovery of Po in absolute units (g) was considerably slower and did not return to control levels until 60 (SOL) to 90 (EDL) days. The maximum shortening velocity was not altered by IM in any of the muscles studied. These results demonstrate that both fast- and slow-twitch skeletal muscles possess the ability to completely recover normal contractile function following prolonged periods of hindlimb IM.

1982 ◽  
Vol 52 (3) ◽  
pp. 677-682 ◽  
Author(s):  
F. A. Witzmann ◽  
D. H. Kim ◽  
R. H. Fitts

Contractile properties were evaluated in rats remobilized after 6 wk of hindlimb casting to evaluate the regenerative capacity of fast and slow skeletal muscles. Contractile parameters were determined in vitro (22 degrees C) in the type I soleus (SOL), type IIA and IIB extensor digitorum longus (EDL), and the type IIB superficial vastus lateralis (SVL). Immobilization (IM) shortened the SOL isometric twitch duration after which contraction time and half-relaxation time required 4 and 7 days to recover, respectively. In contrast, IM prolonged the twitch in the EDL and SVL and recovery required 14 and 7 days, respectively. Peak tetanic tension (g/cm2) fell in the SOL and EDL with IM and full recovery required 28 days. In this regard, the SVL remained unaltered. Rates of tension development and decline remained essentially unaltered in the fast muscles after IM but fell in the SOL, requiring 14 days to fully recover. Maximal shortening velocity, which had been elevated in all three muscles by IM, recovered rapidly. The present results demonstrate that both fast and slow muscle have the ability to completely recover from 6 weeks of IM.


1998 ◽  
Vol 85 (2) ◽  
pp. 525-529 ◽  
Author(s):  
H. F. M. Van Der Heijden ◽  
W. Z. Zhan ◽  
Y. S. Prakash ◽  
P. N. R. Dekhuijzen ◽  
G. C. Sieck

The effects of the β2-adrenoceptor agonist salbutamol (Slb) on isometric and isotonic contractile properties of the rat diaphragm muscle (Diamus) were examined. A loading dose of 25 μg/kg Slb was administered intracardially before Diamus excision to ensure adequate diffusion. Studies were then performed with 0.05 μM Slb in the in vitro tissue chamber. cAMP levels were determined by radioimmunoassay. Compared with controls (Ctl), cAMP levels were elevated after Slb treatment. In Slb-treated rats, isometric twitch and maximum tetanic force were increased by ∼40 and ∼20%, respectively. Maximum shortening velocity increased by ∼15% after Slb treatment, and maximum power output increased by ∼25%. During repeated isotonic activation, the rate of fatigue was faster in the Slb-treated Diamus, but both Slb-treated and Ctl Diamusfatigued to the same maximum power output. Still, endurance time during repetitive isotonic contractions was ∼10% shorter in the Slb-treated Diamus. These results are consistent with the hypothesis that β-adrenoceptor stimulation by Slb enhances Diamus contractility and that these effects of Slb are likely mediated, at least in part, by elevated cAMP.


1987 ◽  
Vol 65 (4) ◽  
pp. 697-703 ◽  
Author(s):  
Roberto T. Sudo ◽  
Gisele Zapata ◽  
Guilherme Suarez-Kurtz

The characteristics of transient contractures elicited by rapid cooling of frog or mouse muscles perfused in vitro with solutions equilibrated with 0.5–2.0% halothane are reviewed. The data indicate that these halothane-cooling contractures are dose dependent and reproducible, and their amplitude is larger in muscles containing predominantly slow-twitch type fibers, such as the mouse soleus, than in muscles in which fast-twitch fibers predominate, such as the mouse extensor digitorum longus. The halothane-cooling contractures are potentiated in muscles exposed to succinylcholine. The effects of Ca2+-free solutions, of the local anesthetics procaine, procainamide, and lidocaine, and of the muscle relaxant dantrolene on the halothane-cooling contractures are consistent with the proposal that the halothane-cooling contractures result from synergistic effects of halothane and low temperature on Ca sequestration by the sarcoplasmic reticulum. Preliminary results from skinned rabbit muscle fibers support this proposal. The halothane concentrations required for the halothane-cooling contractures of isolated frog or mouse muscles are comparable with those observed in serum of patients during general anesthesia. Accordingly, fascicles dissected from muscle biopsies of patients under halothane anesthesia for programmed surgery develop large contractures when rapidly cooled. The amplitude of these halothane-cooling contractures declined with the time of perfusion of the muscle fascicles in vitro with halothane-free physiological solutions. It is suggested that the halothane-cooling contractures could be used as a simple experimental model for the investigation of the effects of halothane on Ca homeostasis and contractility in skeletal muscle and for study of drugs of potential use in the management of the contractures associated with the halothane-induced malignant hyperthermia syndrome. It is shown that salicylates, but not indomethacin or mefenamic acid, inhibit the halothane-cooling contractures.


1987 ◽  
Vol 62 (6) ◽  
pp. 2314-2319 ◽  
Author(s):  
J. S. Arnold ◽  
A. J. Thomas ◽  
S. G. Kelsen

The present study examined the intrinsic contractile properties and endurance of the transverse abdominis and external oblique abdominal expiratory muscles in adult hamsters and compared their performance with the diaphragm. Experiments were performed in vitro on isolated bundles of muscle stimulated electrically. In control animals peak twitch tension was similar in the two muscles. In contrast, the twitch contraction time and one-half relaxation time of the transverse abdominis were significantly greater than that of the external oblique. The isometric tension generated over a range of stimulus frequencies (i.e., the force-frequency relationship) was a greater percent of the maximum value in response to subtetanizing frequencies (10–40 Hz) in the transverse abdominis than in the external oblique. For both abdominal muscles, however, the tension generated over this range of stimulus frequencies was less than that of the diaphragm. The endurance of the transverse abdominis during repeated contractions was significantly greater than that of the external oblique but similar to the diaphragm. The effect of chronic hyperinflation produced by elastase-induced emphysema on the contractile function of the two muscles was assessed in a second group of adult hamsters. In emphysematous animals peak twitch tension, contraction time, and one-half relaxation time of the twitch and force-frequency curves of muscles from emphysematous animals were similar to values obtained in control animals for both the external oblique and transverse abdominis. However, the endurance of both the transverse abdominis and external oblique muscles was greater in emphysematous than control animals.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)


1982 ◽  
Vol 52 (2) ◽  
pp. 473-478 ◽  
Author(s):  
R. R. Roy ◽  
I. D. Meadows ◽  
K. M. Baldwin ◽  
V. R. Edgerton

Chronic overload of a skeletal muscle by removing its synergists produces hypertrophy and marked changes in its metabolic and biochemical properties. In this study alterations in the contractile properties of the plantaris 12–14 wk after bilateral removal of the soleus and gastrocnemius were investigated. In situ isometric and isotonic contractile properties of overloaded plantaris (OP), normal plantaris (NP), and normal soleus (NS) were tested at 33 +/- 1 degree C. Op were 97% heavier than NP and produced 43 and 46% higher twitch (Pt) and tetanic (Po) tensions. However, NP produced more tension per cross-sectional area than OP (mean 26.2 vs. 21.6 N/cm2; P less than 0.001). Isometric twitch time to peak tension (TPT) and half-relaxation time (1/2RT) were significantly longer in OP (mean 36.4 vs. 32.5 ms and 23.9 vs. 18.4 ms). Mean maximum shortening velocity (Vmax, mm/s per 1,000 sarcomeres) were 34.1 for NP and 18.1 for OP (P less than 0.001). The degree of conversion toward the Vmax of NS was 74% compared with only 19 and 14% for TPT and 1/2RT. OP produced a higher proportion of Po at a given stimulation frequency than NP and showed less fatigue than NP after repetitive stimulation. Chronic overload of the fast plantaris modified to varying degrees the contractile properties studied toward that resembling a slow muscle. Although the maximum tension of OP was markedly enhanced it was not in proportion to the increase in muscle mass.


1983 ◽  
Vol 245 (1) ◽  
pp. R25-R31 ◽  
Author(s):  
G. Sjogaard

Sodium, potassium, and magnesium were analyzed in human slow-twitch (ST) and fast-twitch (FT) skeletal muscles. In contrast to other species, no relation was found between fiber composition and electrolyte distribution. In soleus (S), vastus lateralis (VL), and triceps brachii (TB) the overall mean values for 6 men and 6 women were 44 mmol K/100 g dry wt and 11 mmol Na/100 g dry wt; the intracellular concentrations were 161 mmol K/l and 26 mmol Na/l with no differences between the muscles. Analysis of fragments of single ST and FT fibers from each of the muscles also showed no difference between the fiber types in Na and K content. Small differences were seen between the muscles with regard to Mg, but these were not related to fiber composition compared with other species. During exercise to exhaustion (3 bouts of bicycling for 3 min at 325-395 W, 6 men) the extracellular electrolyte concentrations for Na, K, and Mg increased from 134 to 140, 4.5 to 5.8, and 0.75 to 0.87 mmol/l, respectively (P less than 0.05). In VL Na content increased from 9.8 to 16.5 mmol/100 g dry wt, while intracellular [Na] remained constant. In contrast, intracellular [K] decreased from 161 to 141 mmol/l (P less than 0.05). No such changes occurred in TB. In concert with other studies the present changes in electrolytes in the working muscles indicate that muscle fatigue may be related to changes at the muscle fiber membrane.


1984 ◽  
Vol 57 (1) ◽  
pp. 246-253 ◽  
Author(s):  
S. M. Sullivan ◽  
R. N. Pittman

In vitro oxygen consumption (VO2), histochemical fiber type, capillary arrangement, and muscle fiber geometry were measured in three hamster striated muscles. These muscles varied markedly in their histochemical fiber type composition (% by number): retractor (70% FG, fast-twitch, glycolytic; 16% FOG, fast-twitch, oxidative-glycolytic; 14% SO, slow-twitch, oxidative); soleus (57% FOG, 43% SO), and sartorius (98% FG, 2% FOG). Sartorius VO2 [0.80 +/- 0.034 (SE) ml O2 X min-1 X 100 g-1] was significantly different (P less than 0.01) from VO2 of retractor (0.89 +/- 0.038) and soleus (1.00 +/- 0.048).The number of capillaries around a fiber and the surface area/volume were greater for FOG and SO fibers than for FG fibers. Fibers of all types appeared to be roughly elliptical in shape. Capillaries were uniformly distributed around fibers in the soleus, but they were located more toward the ends of the major diameter in the retractor and sartorius. The results suggest a relationship among a fiber's oxidative capacity (based on its histochemical staining pattern), number of surrounding capillaries and surface area/volume. Furthermore, results suggest that VO2 and capillary spacing around a fiber may depend on fiber type.


1980 ◽  
Vol 239 (6) ◽  
pp. E454-E460 ◽  
Author(s):  
R. Nesher ◽  
I. E. Karl ◽  
K. E. Kaiser ◽  
D. M. Kipnis

An in vitro rat muscle preparation is described that can contract at rates of 12–240 twitches/min. Maximum dF/dt paralleled maximum twitch tension, their ratio being constant at approximately 8 ms for contraction rates of 12-120 twitches/min. Time to peak tension was 8–13 ms, time to peak dF/dt 5–8 ms, and half-relaxation time 4 ms. These parameters were unaffected by rate of contraction or duration of isometric work. Differential ATPase staining demonstrated that 60–65% of the fibers were fast-twitch white, 20% fast-twitch red, and 15% slow-twitch red. The preponderance of fast-twitch fibers correlated with the observed mechanical performance of the muscle. Muscles contracting for 60 min at rates up to 48 twitches/min maintained total adenine nucleotide content (ATP, ADP, AMP) at near resting levels. At higher twitch rates (72–240 twitches/min), total adenine nucleotide content decreased 40%, reflecting exclusively a fall in ATP in the presence of adequate phosphocreatine stores. Adequate oxygenation was reflected by lactate-to-pyruvate ratios in the range of 11–15 at all rates of contraction.


2001 ◽  
Vol 91 (3) ◽  
pp. 1237-1244 ◽  
Author(s):  
Rune Aslesen ◽  
Ellen M. L. Engebretsen ◽  
Jesper Franch ◽  
Jørgen Jensen

In the present study, the relationship between the pattern of electrical stimulation and glucose uptake was investigated in slow-twitch muscles (soleus) and fast-twitch muscles (epitrochlearis) from Wistar rats. Muscles were stimulated electrically for 30 min in vitro with either single pulses (frequencies varied between 0.8 and 15 Hz) or with 200-ms trains (0.1–2 Hz). Glucose uptake (measured with tracer amount of 2-[3H]deoxyglucose) increased with increasing number of impulses whether delivered as single pulses or as short trains. The highest glucose uptake achieved with short tetanic contractions was similar in soleus and epitrochlearis (10.9 ± 0.7 and 12.0 ± 0.8 mmol · kg dry wt−1 · 30 min−1, respectively). Single pulses, on the other hand, increased contraction-stimulated glucose uptake less in soleus than in epitrochlearis (7.5 ± 1.1 and 11.7 ± 0.5 mmol · kg dry wt−1 · 30 min−1, respectively; P < 0.02). Glucose uptake correlated with glycogen breakdown in soleus ( r = 0.84, P < 0.0001) and (epitrochlearis: r = 0.91, P < 0.0001). Contraction-stimulated glucose uptake also correlated with breakdown of ATP and PCr and with reduction in force. Our data suggest that metabolic stress mediates contraction-stimulated glucose uptake.


2016 ◽  
Vol 2016 ◽  
pp. 1-6 ◽  
Author(s):  
Marija Meznaric ◽  
Erika Cvetko

Smaller diaphragmatic motor unit potentials (MUPs) compared to MUPs of limb muscles lead to the hypothesis that diaphragmatic muscle fibers, being the generators of MUPs, might be also smaller. We compared autopsy samples of costal diaphragm and vastus lateralis of healthy men with respect to fibers’ size and expression of slow myosin heavy chain isoform (MyHC-1) and fast 2A isoform (MyHC-2A). Diaphragmatic fibers were smaller than fibers in vastus lateralis with regard to the mean minimal fiber diameter of slow-twitch (46.8 versus 72.2 μm,p<0.001), fast-twitch (45.1 versus 62.4 μm,p<0.001), and hybrid fibers (47.3 versus 65.0 μm,p<0.01) as well as to the mean fiber cross-sectional areas of slow-twitch (2376.0 versus 5455.9 μm2,p<0.001), fast-twitch (2258.7 versus 4189.7 μm2,p<0.001), and hybrid fibers (2404.4 versus 4776.3 μm2,p<0.01). The numerical proportion of slow-twitch fibers was higher (50.2 versus 36.3%,p<0.01) in costal diaphragm and the numerical proportion of fast-twitch fibers (47.2 versus 58.7%,p<0.01) was lower. The numerical proportion of hybrid fibers did not differ. Muscle fibers of costal diaphragm have specific characteristics which support increased resistance of diaphragm to fatigue.


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