scholarly journals The active force–length relationship is invisible during extensive eccentric contractions in skinned skeletal muscle fibres

2017 ◽  
Vol 284 (1854) ◽  
pp. 20162497 ◽  
Author(s):  
André Tomalka ◽  
Christian Rode ◽  
Jens Schumacher ◽  
Tobias Siebert
Keyword(s):  
Muscle Force ◽  
Isometric Force ◽  
Eccentric Contractions ◽  
Muscle Fibres ◽  
Active Force ◽  
Optimal Length ◽  
Cross Bridge ◽  
Length Relationship ◽  
Maximum Isometric Force ◽  
Cross Bridges

In contrast to experimentally observed progressive forces in eccentric contractions, cross-bridge and sliding-filament theories of muscle contraction predict that varying myofilament overlap will lead to increases and decreases in active force during eccentric contractions. Non-cross-bridge contributions potentially explain the progressive total forces. However, it is not clear whether underlying abrupt changes in the slope of the nonlinear force–length relationship are visible in long isokinetic stretches, and in which proportion cross-bridges and non-cross-bridges contribute to muscle force. Here, we show that maximally activated single skinned rat muscle fibres behave (almost across the entire working range) like linear springs. The force slope is about three times the maximum isometric force per optimal length. Cross-bridge and non-cross-bridge contributions to the muscle force were investigated using an actomyosin inhibitor. The experiments revealed a nonlinear progressive contribution of non-cross-bridge forces and suggest a nonlinear cross-bridge contribution similar to the active force–length relationship (though with increased optimal length and maximum isometric force). The linear muscle behaviour might significantly reduce the control effort. Moreover, the observed slight increase in slope with initial length is in accordance with current models attributing the non-cross-bridge force to titin.

scholarly journals Active force inhibition and stretch-induced force enhancement in frog muscle treated with BDM

2004 ◽  
Vol 97 (4) ◽  
pp. 1395-1400 ◽  
Author(s):  
Dilson E. Rassier ◽  
Walter Herzog
Keyword(s):  
Fiber Length ◽  
Isometric Force ◽  
Ringer Solution ◽  
Total Force ◽  
Passive Force ◽  
Force Enhancement ◽  
Cross Bridge ◽  
Length Relationship ◽  
Cross Bridges ◽  
Lumbrical Muscles

There is evidence that the stretch-induced residual force enhancement observed in skeletal muscles is associated with 1) cross-bridge dynamics and 2) an increase in passive force. The purpose of this study was to characterize the total and passive force enhancement and to evaluate whether these phenomena may be associated with a slow detachment of cross bridges. Single fibers from frog lumbrical muscles were placed at a length 20% longer than the plateau of the force-length relationship, and active and passive stretches (amplitudes of 5 and 10% of fiber length and at a speed of 40% fiber length/s) were performed. Experiments were conducted in Ringer solution and with the addition of 2, 5, and 10 mM of 2,3-butanedione monoxime (BDM), a cross-bridge inhibitor. The steady-state active and passive isometric forces after stretch of an activated fiber were higher than the corresponding forces measured after isometric contractions or passive stretches. BDM decreased the absolute isometric force and increased the total force enhancement in all conditions investigated. These results suggest that total force enhancement is directly associated with cross-bridge kinetics. Addition of 2 mM BDM did not change the passive force enhancement after 5 and 10% stretches. Addition of 5 and 10 mM did not change (5% stretches) or increased (10% stretches) the passive force enhancement. Increasing stretch amplitudes and increasing concentrations of BDM caused relaxation after stretch to be slower, and because passive force enhancement is increased at the greatest stretch amplitudes and the highest BDM concentrations, it appears that passive force enhancement may be related to slow-detaching cross bridges.

scholarly journals Non-cross Bridge Viscoelastic Elements Contribute to Muscle Force and Work During Stretch-Shortening Cycles: Evidence From Whole Muscles and Permeabilized Fibers

2021 ◽  
Vol 12 ◽  
Author(s):  
Anthony L. Hessel ◽  
Jenna A. Monroy ◽  
Kiisa C. Nishikawa
Keyword(s):  
Muscle Force ◽  
Isometric Force ◽  
Peak Force ◽  
Wild Type ◽  
Phase Dependence ◽  
Cross Bridge ◽  
Viscoelastic Element ◽  
Length Changes ◽  
Cross Bridges ◽  
Dynamic Length

The sliding filament–swinging cross bridge theory of skeletal muscle contraction provides a reasonable description of muscle properties during isometric contractions at or near maximum isometric force. However, it fails to predict muscle force during dynamic length changes, implying that the model is not complete. Mounting evidence suggests that, along with cross bridges, a Ca2+-sensitive viscoelastic element, likely the titin protein, contributes to muscle force and work. The purpose of this study was to develop a multi-level approach deploying stretch-shortening cycles (SSCs) to test the hypothesis that, along with cross bridges, Ca2+-sensitive viscoelastic elements in sarcomeres contribute to force and work. Using whole soleus muscles from wild type and mdm mice, which carry a small deletion in the N2A region of titin, we measured the activation- and phase-dependence of enhanced force and work during SSCs with and without doublet stimuli. In wild type muscles, a doublet stimulus led to an increase in peak force and work per cycle, with the largest effects occurring for stimulation during the lengthening phase of SSCs. In contrast, mdm muscles showed neither doublet potentiation features, nor phase-dependence of activation. To further distinguish the contributions of cross bridge and non-cross bridge elements, we performed SSCs on permeabilized psoas fiber bundles activated to different levels using either [Ca2+] or [Ca2+] plus the myosin inhibitor 2,3-butanedione monoxime (BDM). Across activation levels ranging from 15 to 100% of maximum isometric force, peak force, and work per cycle were enhanced for fibers in [Ca2+] plus BDM compared to [Ca2+] alone at a corresponding activation level, suggesting a contribution from Ca2+-sensitive, non-cross bridge, viscoelastic elements. Taken together, our results suggest that a tunable viscoelastic element such as titin contributes to: (1) persistence of force at low [Ca2+] in doublet potentiation; (2) phase- and length-dependence of doublet potentiation observed in wild type muscles and the absence of these effects in mdm muscles; and (3) increased peak force and work per cycle in SSCs. We conclude that non-cross bridge viscoelastic elements, likely titin, contribute substantially to muscle force and work, as well as the phase-dependence of these quantities, during dynamic length changes.

Regulation of muscle force in the absence of actin-myosin-based cross-bridge interaction

2010 ◽  
Vol 299 (1) ◽  
pp. C14-C20 ◽  
Author(s):  
T. R. Leonard ◽  
W. Herzog
Keyword(s):  
Muscle Force ◽  
Structural Elements ◽  
Active Force ◽  
Structural Protein ◽  
Muscle Injuries ◽  
Cross Bridge ◽  
The Past ◽  
Length Relationship ◽  
Past Half Century ◽  
Past Half

For the past half century, the sliding filament-based cross-bridge theory has been the cornerstone of our understanding of how muscles contract. According to this theory, active force can only occur if there is overlap between the contractile filaments, actin and myosin. Otherwise, forces are thought to be caused by passive structural elements and are assumed to vary solely because of the length of the muscle. We observed increases in muscle force by a factor of 3 to 4 above the purely passive forces for activated and stretched myofibrils in the absence of actin-myosin overlap. We show that this dramatic increase in force is crucially dependent on the presence of the structural protein titin, cannot be explained with calcium activation, and is regulated by actin-myosin-based cross-bridge forces before stretching. We conclude from these observations that titin is a strong regulator of muscle force and propose that this regulation is based on cross-bridge force-dependent titin-actin interactions. These results suggest a mechanism for stability of sarcomeres on the “inherently unstable” descending limb of the force-length relationship, and they further provide an explanation for the protection of muscles against stretch-induced muscle injuries.

Oxytocin-mediated recruitment of slowly cycling cross bridges and isometric force in rat myometrium

1996 ◽  
Vol 270 (2) ◽  
pp. E203-E208
Author(s):  
A. L. Ruzycky ◽  
B. T. Ameredes
Keyword(s):  
Isometric Force ◽  
Additional Stress ◽  
Shortening Velocity ◽  
Cycling Rate ◽  
Quick Release ◽  
Cross Bridge ◽  
Cross Bridges ◽  
Unit Stress ◽  
Release Method ◽  
The Relationship

The relationship between cross-bridge cycling rate and isometric stress was investigated in rat myometrium. Stress production by myometrial strips was measured under resting, K+ depolarization, and oxytocin-stimulated conditions. Cross-bridge cycling rates were determined from measurements of maximal unloaded shortening velocity, using the quick-release method. Force redevelopment after the quick release was used as an index of cross-bridge attachment. With maximal K+ stimulation, stress increased with increased cross-bridge cycling (+76%; P < 0.05) and attached cross bridges (+112%; P < 0.05). Addition of oxytocin during K+ stimulation further increased stress (+30%; P < 0.05). With this force component, the cross-bridge cycling rate decreased (-60%; P < 0.05) similar to that under resting conditions. Attached cross-bridges did not increase with this additional stress. The results suggest two distinct mechanisms mediating myometrial contractions. One requires elevated intracellular calcium and rapidly cycling cross bridges. The other mechanism may be independent of calcium and appears to be mediated by slowly cycling cross bridges, supporting greater unit stress.

Cooperative attachment of cross bridges predicts regulation of smooth muscle force by myosin phosphorylation

2004 ◽  
Vol 287 (3) ◽  
pp. C594-C602 ◽  
Author(s):  
Christopher M. Rembold ◽  
Robert L. Wardle ◽  
Christopher J. Wingard ◽  
Timothy W. Batts ◽  
Elaine F. Etter ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Skeletal Muscle ◽  
Smooth Muscle ◽  
Time Course ◽  
Muscle Force ◽  
Regulatory System ◽  
Force Development ◽  
Cross Bridge ◽  
Cross Bridges ◽  
The Relationship ◽  
Cooperative Activation

Serine 19 phosphorylation of the myosin regulatory light chain (MRLC) appears to be the primary determinant of smooth muscle force development. The relationship between MRLC phosphorylation and force is nonlinear, showing that phosphorylation is not a simple switch regulating the number of cycling cross bridges. We reexamined the MRLC phosphorylation-force relationship in slow, tonic swine carotid media; fast, phasic rabbit urinary bladder detrusor; and very fast, tonic rat anococcygeus. We found a sigmoidal dependence of force on MRLC phosphorylation in all three tissues with a threshold for force development of ∼0.15 mol Pi/mol MRLC. This behavior suggests that force is regulated in a highly cooperative manner. We then determined whether a model that employs both the latch-bridge hypothesis and cooperative activation could reproduce the relationship between Ser19-MRLC phosphorylation and force without the need for a second regulatory system. We based this model on skeletal muscle in which attached cross bridges cooperatively activate thin filaments to facilitate cross-bridge attachment. We found that such a model describes both the steady-state and time-course relationship between Ser19-MRLC phosphorylation and force. The model required both cooperative activation and latch-bridge formation to predict force. The best fit of the model occurred when binding of a cross bridge cooperatively activated seven myosin binding sites on the thin filament. This result suggests cooperative mechanisms analogous to skeletal muscle that will require testing.

Skeletal muscle force and actomyosin ATPase activity reduced by nitric oxide donor

1997 ◽  
Vol 83 (4) ◽  
pp. 1326-1332 ◽  
Author(s):  
William J. Perkins ◽  
Young-Soo Han ◽  
Gary C. Sieck
Keyword(s):  
Nitric Oxide ◽  
Mechanical Properties ◽  
Atpase Activity ◽  
Muscle Force ◽  
Isometric Force ◽  
Nitric Oxide Donor ◽  
No Donor ◽  
Single Fibers ◽  
Actomyosin Atpase ◽  
Cross Bridge

Perkins, William J., Young-Soo Han, and Gary C. Sieck.Skeletal muscle force and actomyosin ATPase activity reduced by nitric oxide donor. J. Appl. Physiol.83(4): 1326–1332, 1997.—Nitric oxide (NO) may exert direct effects on actin-myosin cross-bridge cycling by modulating critical thiols on the myosin head. In the present study, the effects of the NO donor sodium nitroprusside (SNP; 100 μM to 10 mM) on mechanical properties and actomyosin adenosinetriphosphatase (ATPase) activity of single permeabilized muscle fibers from the rabbit psoas muscle were determined. The effects of N-ethylmaleimide (NEM; 5–250 μM), a thiol-specific alkylating reagent, on mechanical properties of single fibers were also evaluated. Both NEM (≥25 μM) and SNP (≥1 mM) significantly inhibited isometric force and actomyosin ATPase activity. The unloaded shortening velocity of SNP-treated single fibers was decreased, but to a lesser extent, suggesting that SNP effects on isometric force and actomyosin ATPase were largely due to decreased cross-bridge recruitment. The calcium sensitivity of SNP-treated single fibers was also decreased. The effects of SNP, but not NEM, on force and actomyosin ATPase activity were reversed by treatment with 10 mMdl-dithiothreitol, a thiol-reducing agent. We conclude that the NO donor SNP inhibits contractile function caused by reversible oxidation of contractile protein thiols.

Regulation of energy consumption in cardiac muscle: analysis of isometric contractions

1999 ◽  
Vol 276 (3) ◽  
pp. H998-H1011 ◽  
Author(s):  
Amir Landesberg ◽  
Samuel Sideman
Keyword(s):  
Energy Consumption ◽  
Cardiac Muscle ◽  
Feedback Mechanism ◽  
Isometric Contractions ◽  
Cross Bridge ◽  
Time Integral ◽  
Length Relationship ◽  
Cross Bridges ◽  
Force Time ◽  
Force Time Integral

The well-known linear relationship between oxygen consumption and force-length area or the force-time integral is analyzed here for isometric contractions. The analysis, which is based on a biochemical model that couples calcium kinetics with cross-bridge cycling, indicates that the change in the number of force-generating cross bridges with the change in the sarcomere length depends on the force generated by the cross bridges. This positive-feedback phenomenon is consistent with our reported cooperativity mechanism, whereby the affinity of the troponin for calcium and, hence, cross-bridge recruitment depends on the number of force-generating cross bridges. Moreover, it is demonstrated that a model that does not include a feedback mechanism cannot describe the dependence of energy consumption on the loading conditions. The cooperativity mechanism, which has been shown to determine the force-length relationship and the related Frank-Starling law, is shown here to provide the basis for the regulation of energy consumption in the cardiac muscle.

scholarly journals Are Force Enhancement after Stretch and Muscle Fatigue Due to Effects of Elevated Inorganic Phosphate and Low Calcium on Cross Bridge Kinetics?

Medicina ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 56 (5) ◽  
pp. 249
Author(s):  
Hans Degens ◽  
David A. Jones
Keyword(s):  
Muscle Fatigue ◽  
Isometric Force ◽  
Force Enhancement ◽  
Shortening Velocity ◽  
Cross Bridge ◽  
Fatigued Muscle ◽  
Butanedione Monoxime ◽  
Combined Action ◽  
Cross Bridges ◽  
Muscle Contractile

Background and Objectives: Muscle fatigue is characterised by (1) loss of force, (2) decreased maximal shortening velocity and (3) a greater resistance to stretch that could be due to reduced intracellular Ca2+ and increased Pi, which alter cross bridge kinetics. Materials and Methods: To investigate this, we used (1) 2,3-butanedione monoxime (BDM), believed to increase the proportion of attached but non-force-generating cross bridges; (2) Pi that increases the proportion of attached cross bridges, but with Pi still attached; and (3) reduced activating Ca2+. We used permeabilised rat soleus fibres, activated with pCa 4.5 at 15 °C. Results: The addition of 1 mM BDM or 15 mM Pi, or the lowering of the Ca2+ to pCa 5.5, all reduced the isometric force by around 50%. Stiffness decreased in proportion to isometric force when the fibres were activated at pCa 5.5, but was well maintained in the presence of Pi and BDM. Force enhancement after a stretch increased with the length of stretch and Pi, suggesting a role for titin. Maximum shortening velocity was reduced by about 50% in the presence of BDM and pCa 5.5, but was slightly increased by Pi. Neither decreasing Ca2+ nor increasing Pi alone mimicked the effects of fatigue on muscle contractile characteristics entirely. Only BDM elicited a decrease of force and slowing with maintained stiffness, similar to the situation in fatigued muscle. Conclusions: This suggests that in fatigue, there is an accumulation of attached but low-force cross bridges that cannot be the result of the combined action of reduced Ca2+ or increased Pi alone, but is probably due to a combination of factors that change during fatigue.

scholarly journals Stretch of active muscle during the declining phase of the calcium transient produces biphasic changes in calcium binding to the activating sites.

1990 ◽  
Vol 96 (5) ◽  
pp. 1013-1035 ◽  
Author(s):  
A M Gordon ◽  
E B Ridgway
Keyword(s):  
Calcium Binding ◽  
Time Course ◽  
Control Level ◽  
Calcium Transient ◽  
Length Change ◽  
Positive Phase ◽  
Active Force ◽  
Cross Bridge ◽  
Calcium Affinity ◽  
Cross Bridges

In voltage-clamped barnacle single muscle fibers, muscle shortening during the declining phase of the calcium transient increases myoplasmic calcium. This extra calcium is probably released from the activating sites by a change in affinity when cross-bridges break (Gordon, A. M., and E. B. Ridgway, 1987. J. Gen. Physiol. 90:321-340). Stretching the muscle at similar times causes a more complex response, a rapid increase in intracellular calcium followed by a transient decrease. The amplitudes of both phases increase with the rate and amplitude of stretch. The rapid increase, however, appears only when the muscle is stretched more than approximately 0.4%. This is above the length change that produces the breakpoint in the force record during a ramp stretch. This positive phase in response to large stretches is similar to that seen on equivalent shortening at the same point in the contraction. For stretches at different times during the calcium transient, the peak amplitude of the positive phase has a time course that is delayed relative to the calcium transient, while the peak decrease during the negative phase has an earlier time course that is more similar to the calcium transient. The amplitudes of both phases increase with increasing strength of stimulation and consequent force. When the initial muscle the active force. A large decrease in length (which drops the active force to zero) decreases the extra calcium seen on a subsequent restretch. After such a shortening step, the extra calcium on stretch recovers (50 ms half time) toward the control level with the same time course as the redeveloped force. Conversely, stretching an active fiber decreases the extra calcium on a subsequent shortening step that is imposed shortly afterward. Enhanced calcium binding due to increased length alone cannot explain our data. We hypothesize that the calcium affinity of the activating sites increases with cross-bridge attachment and further with cross-bridge strain. This accounts for the biphasic response to stretch as follows: cross-bridges detached by stretch first decrease calcium affinity, then upon reattachment increase calcium affinity due to the strained configuration brought on by the stretch. The experiments suggest that cross-bridge attachment and strain can modify calcium binding to the activating sites in intact muscle.

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