Force-Velocity Relationship of Vitamin E-Deficient Skeletal Muscle

Force-velocity curves were derived for gastrocnemius muscles from guinea pigs maintained on vitamin E-deficient and vitamin E-supplemented diets of 15 and 30 days duration. It was noted that the deficient diet even when supplemented with seemingly large amounts of vitamin E was not adequate to promote optimal growth. Velocities of contraction were diminished in gastrocnemii of animals on the deficiency regimen for 15 and 30 days, however, the differences from control values attained statistical significance at the longer duration. The constants of Hill's characteristic equation relating the rate of total energy production in isotonic contractions were calculated and compared. Although the absolute values of the thermal constant, a, and rate constant, b, of control and experimental muscles exhibited a statistically significant difference only in the 30-day studies, the relative values of the thermal constant in deficient muscles were significantly greater at both 15 and 30 days.