scholarly journals Work and power output in the hindlimb muscles of Cuban tree frogs Osteopilus septentrionalis during jumping.

1997 ◽  
Vol 200 (22) ◽  
pp. 2861-2870 ◽  
Author(s):  
M M Peplowski ◽  
R L Marsh

It has been suggested that small frogs use a catapult mechanism to amplify muscle power production during the takeoff phase of jumping. This conclusion was based on an apparent discrepancy between the power available from the hindlimb muscles and that required during takeoff. The present study provides integrated data on muscle contractile properties, morphology and jumping performance that support this conclusion. We show here that the predicted power output during takeoff in Cuban tree frogs Osteopilus septentrionalis exceeds that available from the muscles by at least sevenfold. We consider the sartorius muscle as representative of the bulk of the hindlimb muscles of these animals, because this muscle has properties typical of other hindlimb muscles of small frogs. At 25 degrees C, this muscle has a maximum shortening velocity (Vmax) of 8.77 +/- 0.62 L0 s-1 (where L0 is the muscle length yielding maximum isometric force), a maximum isometric force (P0) of 24.1 +/- 2.3 N cm-2 and a maximum isotonic power output of 230 +/- 9.2 W kg-1 of muscle (mean +/- S.E.M.). In contrast, the power required to accelerate the animal in the longest jumps measured (approximately 1.4 m) is more than 800 W kg-1 of total hindlimb muscle. The peak instantaneous power is expected to be twice this value. These estimates are probably conservative because the muscles that probably power jumping make up only 85% of the total hindlimb muscle mass. The total mechanical work required of the muscles is high (up to 60 J kg-1), but is within the work capacities predicted for vertebrate skeletal muscle. Clearly, a substantial portion of this work must be performed and stored prior to takeoff to account for the high power output during jumping. Interestingly, muscle work output during jumping is temperature-dependent, with greater work being produced at higher temperatures. The thermal dependence of work does not follow from simple muscle properties and instead must reflect the interaction between these properties and the other components of the skeletomuscular system during the propulsive phase of the jump.

1976 ◽  
Vol 39 (3) ◽  
pp. 484-500 ◽  
Author(s):  
J. Hore ◽  
J. B. Preston ◽  
P. D. Cheney

1. A study was made of the response of single cortical units in areas 3a and 4 to electrical stimulation of hindlimb muscle nerves and to ramp stretch of hindlimb muscles in baboons anesthetized with chloralose.2. Stimulation of hindlimb muscle nerves revealed a group I projection primarily to area 3a but with some input into adjacent area. 4. A major group II projection was found in area 4 adjacent to area 3a. A small number of area 3a neurons receive convergence from both group I and group II muscle afferents.3a. On the basis of their response pattern to ramp stretch, units were classified into one of six categories and their cytoarchitectonic location was determined. Units in area 3a had hynamic sensitivities equivalent to that of the primary spindle afferents. Although the discharge of some area 3a neurons also reflected differences in muscle length, most area 3a neurons had low position sensitivities. One unit type in area 3a did not respond to maintained muscle stretch and signaled only velocity of stretch.4. Units in area 4 had position sensitivities equivalent to that of primary and secondary spindle afferents. Although the discharge of some area 4 units reflected different velocities of muscle stretch, these units had dynamic sensitivities similar to those of secondary spindle afferents rather than those of primary afferents. One type of unit in area 4 had no dynamic component to muscle stretch and signaled only muscle length.5. The results demonstrate that there is a transfer of dynamic and position sensitivity from spindle afferents to cortical neurons. Furthermore, data processing has occurred because some units respond only to the steady-state length of muscle, while other units encode only the dynamic phase of stretch. This behavior is different from the responses to ramp stretch of either group I or group II muscle afferents in the baboon.6. The results demonstrate that single units in cerebral cortex can encode the information transmitted to the central nervous system by muscle spindle afferents. The purpose for which this information is used remains undetermined.


1983 ◽  
Vol 245 (5) ◽  
pp. R673-R677
Author(s):  
J. C. Byrne ◽  
A. Tozeren

Muscle contractility can be characterized by two related properties: force and velocity. The initial velocity of a tetanic contraction is inversely related to preload. This was demonstrated experimentally by Hill and quantified in his well-known empiric equation. Subsequent investigators argued that a theoretical maximum contractile element velocity (V max) could be predicted from the rate of change of isometric force. V max has been applied clinically in heart studies, prompting others to use similar methods to evaluate bladder contractility. These attempts have so far been unsuccessful. The present study shows for whole canine bladders that the time to reach maximum isometric force from the moment of onset of active contraction is a constant independent of muscle length, preload, and maximum force. This can be expressed as a frequency constant (omega) whose calculation appears similar to that for V max. In contrast to V max, omega is obtained only from the active component of pressure.


1975 ◽  
Vol 229 (3) ◽  
pp. 646-651 ◽  
Author(s):  
JE Strobeck ◽  
AS Bahler ◽  
EH Sonnenblick

The force-velocity-length determinants of isotonic relaxation were studied in 12 cat papillary muscles. Isotonic relaxation velocity (VL) was found to be a function of total load (preload + afterload), with peak VL increasing to a maximum at loads approximately .3 to .4 Po(L') (Po(L') defined as maximum isometric force developed during a twitch at the experimental length) and falling with increasing loads. Initial muscle length (ML) had no effect on the peak VL with constant load. Increasing the initial length at which isotonic relaxation occurred (LL) decreased peak VL but did not alter the unique length-velocity trajectory at constant load. This unique length-velocity trajectory occurred, despite a wide variation in time during the contraction when peak VL was measured. Increasing Ca++ from 2.5 to 7.5 mM increased peak VL (1.73 +/- .16 to 2.32 +/- .20 ML/s) and shifted the entire length-velocity trajectory toward higher velocities of lengthening. The addition of 10 mM caffeine increased peak VL also (1.67 +/- .18 to 2.54 +/- .20 ML/s) and had a similar effect on the length-velocity trajectory during lengthening as Ca++. Both increased Ca++ and caffeine (10 mM) augmented the maximum VL measured on addition of load.


2011 ◽  
Vol 366 (1570) ◽  
pp. 1488-1495 ◽  
Author(s):  
Thomas J. Roberts ◽  
Emily M. Abbott ◽  
Emanuel Azizi

Muscles power movement, yet the conceptual link between muscle performance and locomotor performance is poorly developed. Frog jumping provides an ideal system to probe the relationship between muscle capacity and locomotor performance, because a jump is a single discrete event and mechanical power output is a critical determinant of jump distance. We tested the hypothesis that interspecific variation in jump performance could be explained by variability in available muscle power. We used force plate ergometry to measure power produced during jumping in Cuban tree frogs ( Osteopilus septentrionalis ), leopard frogs ( Rana pipiens ) and cane toads ( Bufo marinus ). We also measured peak isotonic power output in isolated plantaris muscles for each species. As expected, jump performance varied widely. Osteopilus septentrionalis developed peak power outputs of 1047.0 ± 119.7 W kg −1 hindlimb muscle mass, about five times that of B. marinus (198.5 ± 54.5 W kg −1 ). Values for R. pipiens were intermediate (543.9 ± 96.2 W kg −1 ). These differences in jump power were not matched by differences in available muscle power, which were 312.7 ± 28.9, 321.8 ± 48.5 and 262.8 ± 23.2 W kg −1 muscle mass for O. septentrionalis , R. pipiens and B. marinus , respectively. The lack of correlation between available muscle power and jump power suggests that non-muscular mechanisms (e.g. elastic energy storage) can obscure the link between muscle mechanical performance and locomotor performance.


Author(s):  
Sydnee A. Hyman ◽  
Isabella T. Wu ◽  
Laura S. Vasquez-Bolanos ◽  
Mackenzie B. Norman ◽  
Mary C. Esparza ◽  
...  

Chronic rotator cuff tears can cause severe functional deficits. Addressing the chronic fatty and fibrotic muscle changes is of high clinical interest; however, the architectural and physiological consequences of chronic tear and repair are poorly characterized. We present a detailed architectural and physiological analysis of chronic tear and repair (both over 8 and 16 weeks) compared to age-matched control rabbit supraspinatus (SSP) muscles. Using female New Zealand White Rabbits (N=30, n=6/group) under 2% isofluorane anesthesia, the SSP was surgically isolated and maximum isometric force measured at 4-6 muscle lengths. Architectural analysis was performed, and maximum isometric stress was computed. Whole muscle length-tension curves were generated using architectural measurements to compare experimental physiology to theoretical predictions. Architectural measures are consistent with persistent radial and longitudinal atrophy over time in tenotomy that fail to recover after repair. Maximum isometric force was significantly decreased after 16 wks tenotomy and not significantly improved after repair. Peak isometric force reported here are greater than prior reports of rabbit SSP force after tenotomy. Peak stress was not significantly different between groups and consistent with prior literature of SSP stress. Muscle strain during contraction was significantly decreased after 8-wks of tenotomy and repair, indicating effects of tear and repair on muscle function. The experimental length-tension data was overlaid with predicted curves for each experimental group (generated from structural data), exposing the altered structure-function relationship for tenotomy and repair over time. Data presented here contribute to understanding the physiological implications of disease and repair in the rotator cuff


1992 ◽  
Vol 164 (1) ◽  
pp. 1-18 ◽  
Author(s):  
ANDREW A. BIEWENER ◽  
KENNETH P. DIAL ◽  
G. E. GOSLOW

Force recordings of the pectoralis muscle of European starlings have been made in vivo during level flight in a wind tunnel, based on bone strain recordings at the muscle's attachment site on the humerus (deltopectoral crest). This represents the first direct measurement of muscle force during activity in a live animal based on calibrated bone strain recordings. Our force measurements confirm earlier electromyographic data and show that the pectoralis begins to develop force during the final one-third of the upstroke, reaches a maximal level halfway through the downstroke, and sustains force throughout the downstroke. Peak forces generated by the pectoralis during level flight at a speed estimated to be 13.7ms−1 averaged 6.4N (28% of maximal isometric force), generating a mean mass-specific muscle power output of 104 W kg−1. Combining our data for the power output of the pectoralis muscle with data for the metabolic power of starlings flying at a similar speed yields an overall flight efficiency of 13 %. The force recordings and length changes of the muscle, based on angular displacements of the humerus, indicate that the pectoralis muscle undergoes a lengthening--shortening contraction sequence during its activation and that, in addition to lift and thrust generation, overcoming wing inertia is probably an important function of this muscle in flapping flight.


1990 ◽  
Vol 258 (1) ◽  
pp. H191-H197 ◽  
Author(s):  
M. R. Zile ◽  
C. H. Conrad ◽  
W. H. Gaasch ◽  
K. G. Robinson ◽  
O. H. Bing

To determine whether isolated changes in preload (end-diastolic force) can influence myocardial relaxation rate in normal or abnormal (hypoxic or hypertrophic) hearts, isolated LV papillary muscles from normal Wistar-Kyoto (WKY) and spontaneously hypertensive (SHR) rats were studied using physiologically sequenced contractions. While total (systolic) load and late (lengthening) load were held constant, maximum isometric force decline (peak -dT/dt) and maximum isotonic lengthening rate (peak +dL/dt) were measured at seven levels of preload that varied from 115 to 55% of the resting tension at maximum length-tension curves (Lmax). Muscles from normal rats were studied in the oxygenated state (95% O2-5% CO2) and in the hypoxic state (95% N2-5% CO2). Preload did not effect peak -dT/dt or peak +dL/dt in either oxygenated or hypoxic muscles. During hypoxia, peak -dT/dt and peak +dL/dt were 9.5 +/- 1.0 g.mm-2.s-1 and 0.3 +/- 0.1 muscle length/s, respectively, at a preload of 115% compared with 9.0 +/- 1.2 g.mm-2.s-1 and 0.2 +/- 0.1 at a preload of 55%. In separate experiments, the effect of preload on relaxation rate was studied in WKY and SHR rats. In neither group did preload have an independent effect on relaxation rate. In the SHRs, peak -dT/dt and peak +dL/dt were 24.3 +/- 5.3 g.mm-2.s-1 and 0.7 +/- 0.1 muscle length/s, respectively, at a preload of 115% compared with 24.7 +/- 6.6 and 0.8 +/- 0.1 at a preload of 55%. Thus, in hypoxic and hypertrophic myocardium, as in normal muscle, an acute isolated change in preload did not influence the rate of force decline or muscle lengthening.


2009 ◽  
Vol 107 (4) ◽  
pp. 1156-1164 ◽  
Author(s):  
Seung Jun Choi ◽  
Jeffrey J. Widrick

Many physical activities can induce both transient and long-lasting muscle dysfunction. The separate and interactive effects of short-term fatigue and long-lasting contraction-induced damage were evaluated in an in vitro mouse soleus preparation (35°C) using the work loop technique. Repetitive fatiguing work loops reduced positive work (work produced by the muscle), increased negative work (work required to reextend the muscle), and reduced cyclical power (net work/time) immediately after treatment. These changes were readily reversible. The fatigue treatment had no long-term effects on optimal muscle length ( Lo) and isometric force (Po). High strain lengthening work loops, where the muscle contracted eccentrically, resulted in both immediate and long-lasting positive work, power, and Po deficits as well as a shift in Lo to longer lengths. When the treatments were combined, i.e., fatigued muscles subjected to eccentric activity, the immediate power deficit exceeded the sum of the power deficits noted for the other two treatments. Much of this effect was due to an exaggerated rise in negative work. However, in the long term, power and Po deficits and the shift in Lo were reduced compared with the damage-only treatment. These results show that 1) the immediate effects of combined fatigue and damage on cyclical power are synergistic, in large part because of a reduced ability of the muscle to relax; and 2) fatigued muscles are less susceptible to long-term contraction-induced dysfunction. Fatigue may protect against long-term damage by reducing the probability that sarcomeres are lengthened beyond myofilament overlap.


1993 ◽  
Vol 174 (1) ◽  
pp. 199-213 ◽  
Author(s):  
T. P. Johnson ◽  
S. J. Swoap ◽  
A. F. Bennett ◽  
R. K. Josephson

The power output of fast-glycolytic (FG) muscle fibres isolated from the iliofibularis (IF) muscle of desert iguanas (Dipsosaurus dorsalis) was measured at 35 sC using the oscillatory work-loop technique. To simulate cyclical muscle length changes during running, isolated fibre bundles were subjected to sinusoidal length changes and phasic stimulation during the strain cycle. At constant strain (12 %), the duration and timing (phase) of stimulation were adjusted to maximise power output. Using both hatchlings (4–8 g) and adults of varying sizes (15–70 g), the intraspecific allometries of IF length and contractile properties were described by regression analysis. The muscle length at which isometric force was maximum (L0, mm) increased geometrically with body mass (M, g) (L0=5.7M0.33). Maximum power output and the force produced during shortening showed no significant relationship to body size; work output per cycle (Wopt, J kg-1) under conditions required to maximise power did increase with body size (Wopt=3.7M0.24). Twitch duration (Td, ms), measured from the onset of force generation to 50 % relaxation, increased allometrically with body mass (Td=12.4M0.18). Limb cycling frequency during burst running (f, reported in the literature) and the frequency required to maximise power output in vitro (fopt) decreased with body size, both being proportional to body mass raised to the power 0.24. These findings suggest that limb cycling frequency may be limited by twitch contraction kinetics. However, despite corresponding proportionality to body size, limb cycling frequencies during burst running are about 20 % lower than the cycling frequencies required to maximise power output. Differences in the contractile performance of the IF in vitro and in vivo are discussed in relation to constraints imposed by gravitational forces and the design of muscular, nervous and skeletal systems.


2003 ◽  
Vol 285 (2) ◽  
pp. C384-C390 ◽  
Author(s):  
Kuo-Hsing Kuo ◽  
Ana M. Herrera ◽  
Lu Wang ◽  
Peter D. Paré ◽  
Lincoln E. Ford ◽  
...  

Airway smooth muscle is able to adapt and maintain a nearly constant maximal force generation over a large length range. This implies that a fixed filament lattice such as that found in striated muscle may not exist in this tissue and that plastic remodeling of its contractile and cytoskeletal filaments may be involved in the process of length adaptation that optimizes contractile filament overlap. Here, we show that isometric force produced by airway smooth muscle is independent of muscle length over a twofold length change; cell cross-sectional area was inversely proportional to cell length, implying that the cell volume was conserved at different lengths; shortening velocity and myosin filament density varied similarly to length change: increased by 69.4% ± 5.7 (SE) and 76.0% ± 9.8, respectively, for a 100% increase in cell length. Muscle power output, ATPase rate, and myosin filament density also have the same dependence on muscle cell length: increased by 35.4% ± 6.7, 34.6% ± 3.4, and 35.6% ± 10.6, respectively, for a 50% increase in cell length. The data can be explained by a model in which additional contractile units containing myosin filaments are formed and placed in series with existing contractile units when the muscle is adapted at a longer length.


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