Metabolic and fiber size properties of cat tibialis anterior motor units

1988 ◽  
Vol 255 (1) ◽  
pp. C43-C50 ◽  
Author(s):  
T. P. Martin ◽  
S. Bodine-Fowler ◽  
R. R. Roy ◽  
E. Eldred ◽  
V. R. Edgerton

The variability among single muscle fiber enzymatic activities and fiber size within a motor unit was studied in the cat tibialis anterior (TA) muscle. Fourteen units were isolated for physiological testing using standard ventral root filament stimulation techniques, and the muscle fibers of these units were identified by glycogen depletion. The cross-sectional areas, succinate dehydrogenase (SDH) and alpha-glycerolphosphate dehydrogenase (GPD) activities, and the relative alkaline myofibrillar adenosine triphosphate staining densities of a sample of glycogen-depleted and -nondepleted muscle fibers were determined using quantitative histochemical techniques. Each of the unit types previously identified to be present in the TA, based on physiological criteria, were represented by the sample population. The variability among the fibers of a unit was significantly more than the variability among repeated measures on a single fiber for cross-sectional area and SDH and GPD activities. The mean coefficients of variation for SDH and GPD activity within motor unit fibers were 29 and 56%, respectively, whereas the variability between fibers of different units within a muscle was significantly greater (53 and 69%, respectively). Additionally, the mean coefficient of variation for cross-sectional area among motor unit fibers was less than that among fibers not depleted of glycogen (25 vs. 46%). These data suggest that although there is clear evidence for some level of neural control of the properties of a muscle unit (variation within a unit was less than the variation across units), this control is not complete, since the variability among fibers of a single unit was significantly more than the variability found between repeated measurements on a single fiber.

1987 ◽  
Vol 57 (6) ◽  
pp. 1730-1745 ◽  
Author(s):  
S. C. Bodine ◽  
R. R. Roy ◽  
E. Eldred ◽  
V. R. Edgerton

In 11 tibialis anterior muscles of the cat, a single motor unit was characterized physiologically and subsequently depleted of its glycogen through repetitive stimulation of an isolated ventral root filament. Muscle cross sections were stained for glycogen using a periodic acid-Schiff reaction, and single-fiber optical densities were determined to identify those fibers belonging to the stimulated motor unit. Innervation ratios were determined by counting the total number of muscle fibers in a motor unit in sections taken through several levels of the muscle. The average innervation ratios for the fast, fatigueable (FF) and fast, fatigue-resistant (FR) units were similar. However, the slow units (S) contained 61% fewer fibers than the fast units (FF and FR). Muscle fibers belonging to S and FR units were similar in cross-sectional area, whereas fibers belonging to FF units were significantly larger than fibers belonging to either S or FR units. Additionally, muscle fibers innervated by a single motoneuron varied by two- to eightfold in cross-sectional area. Specific tensions, based on total cross-sectional area determined by summing the areas of all muscle fibers of each unit, showed a modest difference between fast and slow units, the means being 23.5 and 17.2 N X cm-2, respectively. Variations in maximum tension among units could be explained principally by innervation ratio, although fiber cross-sectional area and specific tension did contribute to differences between unit types.


1978 ◽  
Vol 44 (3) ◽  
pp. 431-437 ◽  
Author(s):  
L. C. Maxwell ◽  
J. A. Faulkner ◽  
S. A. Mufti ◽  
A. M. Turowski

Fifty extensor digitorium longus muscles of 25 cats were autografted, 33 with and 17 without prior denervation. After 50 days, no significant differences were observed between predenervated and nonpredenervated autografts. Autografted muscles weighed 48% of the weight of control muscles. Few original muscle fibers survived and within 2 wk autografts contained regenerating muscle fibers. The mean cross-sectional area of muscle fibers in the autografts reached 125% of the value for control nontransplanted muscles. The mean percentage of fibers classified high oxidative in autografted muscles was 67% of values for control muscles. SDH activity of autografted muscle homogenates reached 55% of control values. Up to 60 days after surgery autografts had only fast-twitch fibers. At 170 days autografts remained 95% fast twitch in composition. Revascularization began within 4 days, but the capillary to fiber ratio of long term autografts reached only 60% of control values. Although fiber hypertrophy suggests that cats use autografted muscles, lower than control succinate dehydrogenase activity may result from altered recruitment.


1996 ◽  
Vol 81 (1) ◽  
pp. 145-151 ◽  
Author(s):  
D. L. Allen ◽  
W. Yasui ◽  
T. Tanaka ◽  
Y. Ohira ◽  
S. Nagaoka ◽  
...  

The effects of 14 days of spaceflight on myonuclear number, fiber size, and myosin heavy chain (MHC) expression in isolated rat soleus muscle fiber segments were studied. Single soleus muscle fibers from rats flown on the Spacelab Life Sciences-2 14-day mission were compared with those from age-matched ground-based control rats by using confocal microscopy and gel electrophoresis. Spaceflight resulted in a significant reduction in the number of fibers expressing type I MHC and an increase in the number of fibers expressing type IIx or IIa MHC. Space-flight also resulted in an increase in the percentage of fibers coexpressing more than one MHC and in the reexpression of the neonatal isoform of MHC in some fibers. Fiber cross-sectional area was significantly reduced in pure type I MHC-expressing fibers and in fibers coexpressing type I+II MHC but not in fibers expressing one or more type II MHC in the flight rats. The number of myonuclei per millimeter was significantly reduced in type I MHC-expressing fibers from the flight rats but was not significantly different in type I+II and type II MHC-coexpressing fibers. Fibers expressing neonatal MHC were similar in size to control fibers but had significantly fewer myonuclei per millimeter than flight fibers not expressing neonatal MHC. In type I MHC-expressing fibers, the reduction in fiber cross-sectional area was greater than the reduction in myonuclear number; thus the average cytoplasmic volume per myonucleus was significantly lower in flight than in control fibers. The reduction in both myonuclear number and fiber size of fibers expressing type I MHC after 14 days of spaceflight supports the hypothesis that changes in the number of myonuclei may be a contributing factor to the reduction in fiber size associated with chronic unloading of the musculature.


2013 ◽  
Vol 114 (1) ◽  
pp. 148-155 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jyothi Mula ◽  
Jonah D. Lee ◽  
Fujun Liu ◽  
Lin Yang ◽  
Charlotte A. Peterson

Morphological characteristics of muscle fibers, such as fiber size, are critical factors that determine the health and function of the muscle. However, at this time, quantification of muscle fiber cross-sectional area is still a manual or, at best, a semiautomated process. This process is labor intensive, time consuming, and prone to errors, leading to high interobserver variability. We have developed and validated an automatic image segmentation algorithm and compared it directly with commercially available semiautomatic software currently considered state of the art. The proposed automatic segmentation algorithm was evaluated against a semiautomatic method with manual annotation using 35 randomly selected cross-sectional muscle histochemical images. The proposed algorithm begins with ridge detection to enhance the muscle fiber boundaries, followed by robust seed detection based on concave area identification to find initial seeds for muscle fibers. The final muscle fiber boundaries are automatically delineated using a gradient vector flow deformable model. Our automatic approach is accurate and represents a significant advancement in efficiency; quantification of fiber area in muscle cross sections was reduced from 25–40 min/image to 15 s/image, while accommodating common quantification obstacles including morphological variation (e.g., heterogeneity in fiber size and fibrosis) and technical artifacts (e.g., processing defects and poor staining quality). Automatic quantification of muscle fiber cross-sectional area using the proposed method is a powerful tool that will increase sensitivity, objectivity, and efficiency in measuring muscle adaptation.


1991 ◽  
Vol 69 (11) ◽  
pp. 1774-1783 ◽  
Author(s):  
Joanne E. Tötösy de Zepetnek ◽  
Tessa Gordon ◽  
Richard B. Stein ◽  
Hor Ven Zung

The relationship between motor unit force and the recorded voltage produced by activated muscle unit fibres (electromyogram, EMG) was examined in normal and reinnervated rat tibialis anterior muscles. The number, cross-sectional area, and radial distance from the recording electrode of muscle fibres in a given unit, obtained directly from a sample of glycogen-depleted motor units, were analysed in relation to the magnitude of the EMG signal produced by that unit. EMG peak to peak amplitude and area varied as approximately the square root of twitch force in both normal and reinnervated units. Furthermore, the EMG amplitude increased approximately as the total cross-sectional area of the motor unit (number of muscle fibres × the average cross-sectional area of the fibres) and inversely with approximately the square root of the distance of fibres from the recording electrodes on the surface of the muscle.Key words: motor unit size, electromyogram, reinnervation, glycogen depletion.


2021 ◽  
Vol 22 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Gernot Seppel ◽  
Andreas Voss ◽  
Daniel J. H. Henderson ◽  
Simone Waldt ◽  
Bernhard Haller ◽  
...  

Abstract Background While supraspinatus atrophy can be described according to the system of Zanetti or Thomazeau there is still a lack of characterization of isolated subscapularis muscle atrophy. The aim of this study was to describe patterns of muscle atrophy following repair of isolated subscapularis (SSC) tendon. Methods Forty-nine control shoulder MRI scans, without rotator cuff pathology, atrophy or fatty infiltration, were prospectively evaluated and subscapularis diameters as well as cross sectional areas (complete and upper half) were assessed in a standardized oblique sagittal plane. Calculation of the ratio between the upper half of the cross sectional area (CSA) and the total CSA was performed. Eleven MRI scans of patients with subscapularis atrophy following isolated subscapularis tendon tears were analysed and cross sectional area ratio (upper half /total) determined. To guarantee reliable measurement of the CSA and its ratio, bony landmarks were also defined. All parameters were statistically compared for inter-rater reliability, reproducibility and capacity to quantify subscapularis atrophy. Results The mean age in the control group was 49.7 years (± 15.0). The mean cross sectional area (CSA) was 2367.0 mm2 (± 741.4) for the complete subscapularis muscle and 1048.2 mm2 (± 313.3) for the upper half, giving a mean ratio of 0.446 (± 0.046). In the subscapularis repair group the mean age was 56.7 years (± 9.3). With a mean cross sectional area of 1554.7 mm2 (± 419.9) for the complete and of 422.9 mm2 (± 173.6) for the upper half of the subscapularis muscle, giving a mean CSA ratio of 0.269 (± 0.065) which was seen to be significantly lower than that of the control group (p < 0.05). Conclusion Analysis of typical atrophy patterns of the subscapularis muscle demonstrates that the CSA ratio represents a reliable and reproducible assessment tool in quantifying subscapularis atrophy. We propose the classification of subscapularis atrophy as Stage I (mild atrophy) in case of reduction of the cross sectional area ratio < 0.4, Stage II (moderate atrophy) in case of < 0.35 and Stage III (severe atrophy) if < 0.3.


2016 ◽  
Vol 52 (1) ◽  
pp. 12-23 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ran S Sopher ◽  
Andrew A Amis ◽  
D Ceri Davies ◽  
Jonathan RT Jeffers

Data about a muscle’s fibre pennation angle and physiological cross-sectional area are used in musculoskeletal modelling to estimate muscle forces, which are used to calculate joint contact forces. For the leg, muscle architecture data are derived from studies that measured pennation angle at the muscle surface, but not deep within it. Musculoskeletal models developed to estimate joint contact loads have usually been based on the mean values of pennation angle and physiological cross-sectional area. Therefore, the first aim of this study was to investigate differences between superficial and deep pennation angles within each muscle acting over the ankle and predict how differences may influence muscle forces calculated in musculoskeletal modelling. The second aim was to investigate how inter-subject variability in physiological cross-sectional area and pennation angle affects calculated ankle contact forces. Eight cadaveric legs were dissected to excise the muscles acting over the ankle. The mean surface and deep pennation angles, fibre length and physiological cross-sectional area were measured. Cluster analysis was applied to group the muscles according to their architectural characteristics. A previously validated OpenSim model was used to estimate ankle muscle forces and contact loads using architecture data from all eight limbs. The mean surface pennation angle for soleus was significantly greater (54%) than the mean deep pennation angle. Cluster analysis revealed three groups of muscles with similar architecture and function: deep plantarflexors and peroneals, superficial plantarflexors and dorsiflexors. Peak ankle contact force was predicted to occur before toe-off, with magnitude greater than five times bodyweight. Inter-specimen variability in contact force was smallest at peak force. These findings will help improve the development of experimental and computational musculoskeletal models by providing data to estimate force based on both surface and deep pennation angles. Inter-subject variability in muscle architecture affected ankle muscle and contact loads only slightly. The link between muscle architecture and function contributes to the understanding of the relationship between muscle structure and function.


2004 ◽  
Vol 96 (2) ◽  
pp. 463-468 ◽  
Author(s):  
Eric Laffon ◽  
Christophe Vallet ◽  
Virginie Bernard ◽  
Michel Montaudon ◽  
Dominique Ducassou ◽  
...  

The present method enables the noninvasive assessment of mean pulmonary arterial pressure from magnetic resonance phase mapping by computing both physical and biophysical parameters. The physical parameters include the mean blood flow velocity over the cross-sectional area of the main pulmonary artery (MPA) at the systolic peak and the maximal systolic MPA cross-sectional area value, whereas the biophysical parameters are related to each patient, such as height, weight, and heart rate. These parameters have been measured in a series of 31 patients undergoing right-side heart catheterization, and the computed mean pulmonary arterial pressure value (PpaComp) has been compared with the mean pressure value obtained from catheterization (PpaCat) in each patient. A significant correlation was found that did not differ from the identity line PpaComp = PpaCat ( r = 0.92). The mean and maximal absolute differences between PpaComp and PpaCat were 5.4 and 11.9 mmHg, respectively. The method was also applied to compute the MPA systolic and diastolic pressures in the same patient series. We conclude that this computed method, which combines physical (whoever the patient) and biophysical parameters (related to each patient), improves the accuracy of MRI to noninvasively estimate pulmonary arterial pressures.


2018 ◽  
Vol 2018 ◽  
pp. 1-7 ◽  
Author(s):  
Qianru Li ◽  
Qi Zhang ◽  
Yehua Cai ◽  
Yinghui Hua

Purpose. To evaluate differences of Achilles tendon (AT) hardness and morphology between asymptomatic tendons in patients with acute AT ruptures on the contralateral side and asymptomatic tendons in healthy people by using computer-assisted quantification on axial-strain sonoelastography (ASE). Methods. The study consisted of 33 asymptomatic tendons in 33 patients (study group) and 34 tendons in 19 healthy volunteers (control group). All the tendons were examined by both ASE and conventional ultrasound. Computer-assisted quantification on ASE was applied to extract hardness variables, including the mean (Hmean), 20th percentile (H20), median (H50) and skewness (Hsk) of the hardness within tendon, and the ratio of the mean hardness within tendon to that outside tendon (Hratio) and three morphological variables: the thickness (THK), cross-sectional area, and eccentricity (ECC) of tendons. Results. The Hmean, Hsk, H20, H50, and Hratio in the proximal third of the tendon body in study group were significantly smaller than those in control group (Hmean: 0.43±0.09 vs 0.50±0.07, p=0.001; Hsk: -0.53±0.51 vs -1.09±0.51, p<0.001; H20: 0.31±0.10 vs 0.40±0.10, p=0.001; H50: 0.45±0.10 vs 0.53±0.08, p<0.001; Hratio: 1.01±0.25 vs 1.20±0.23, p=0.003). The THK and cross-sectional area of tendons in the study group were larger than those in the control group (p<0.05). Conclusions. As a quantitative objective method, the computer-assisted ASE reveals that the asymptomatic ATs contralateral to acute rupture are softer than those of healthy control group at the proximal third and the asymptomatic tendons in people with rupture history are thicker, larger, and rounder than those of normal volunteers especially at the middle and distal thirds of AT body.


2021 ◽  
Vol 20 (1) ◽  
pp. 50-54
Author(s):  
Thyago Guirelle Silva ◽  
Rodrigo Augusto do Amaral ◽  
Raphael Rezende Pratali ◽  
Luiz Pimenta

ABSTRACT Objective: To verify the effectiveness of indirect decompression after lateral access fusion in patients with high pelvic incidence. Methods: A retrospective, non-comparative, non-randomized analysis of 22 patients with high pelvic incidence who underwent lateral access fusion, 11 of whom were male and 11 female, with a mean age of 63 years (52-74), was conducted. Magnetic resonance exams were performed within one year after surgery. The cross-sectional area of the thecal sac, anterior and posterior disc heights, and bilateral foramen heights, measured pre- and postoperatively in axial and sagittal magnetic resonance images, were analyzed. The sagittal alignment parameters were measured using simple radiographs. The clinical results were evaluated using the ODI and VAS (back and lower limbs) questionnaires. Results: In all cases, the technique was performed successfully without neural complications. The mean cross-sectional area increased from 126.5 mm preoperatively to 174.3 mm postoperatively. The mean anterior disc height increased from 9.4 mm preoperatively to 12.8 mm postoperatively, while the posterior disc height increased from 6.3 mm preoperatively to 8.1 mm postoperatively. The mean height of the right foramen increased from 157.3 mm in the preoperative period to 171.2 mm in the postoperative period and that of the left foramen increased from 139.3 mm in the preoperative to 158.9 mm in the postoperative. Conclusions: This technique is capable of correcting misalignment in spinal deformity, achieving fusion and promoting the decompression of neural elements. Level of evidence III; Retrospective study.


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