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The Force–Length Relationship of Mechanically Isolated Sarcomeres

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Muscle Biophysics

Part of the book series: Advances in Experimental Medicine and Biology ((AEMB,volume 682))

Abstract

The sarcomere force–length relationship is arguably the most basic property of skeletal muscle force production. It has been accepted as textbook knowledge and is in direct support of the sliding filament and cross-bridge theories of contraction. However, the sarcomere force–length relationship has never been measured directly. Here, we show results of two experiments elucidating the force–length properties of mechanically isolated sarcomeres. We demonstrate that sarcomere forces are greatly dependent on sarcomere lengths for purely isometric conditions, but can take on essentially any steady-state value depending on an individual sarcomere’s contractile history. Therefore, we conclude that steady-state isometric forces in isolated sarcomeres do not only depend on sarcomere lengths (or equivalently actin-myosin overlap) but depend crucially on a sarcomere’s contractile history. These results have direct implications for our understanding of the molecular mechanisms of muscle contraction.

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Acknowledgements

The Canadian Institutes of Health Research, The Canada Research Chair Program (for Molecular and Cellular Biomechanics), the Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council of Canada, and the Canada Foundation for Innovation.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Faculty of Kinesiology, University of Calgary, Calgary, AB, Canada, T2N1N4

    W. Herzog

Authors
  1. W. Herzog
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  2. V. Joumaa
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  3. T. R. Leonard
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Corresponding author

Correspondence to W. Herzog .

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Editors and Affiliations

  1. McGill University, Pine Avenue West 475, Montreal, H2W 1S4, Québec, Canada

    Dilson E. Rassier

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Herzog, W., Joumaa, V., Leonard, T.R. (2010). The Force–Length Relationship of Mechanically Isolated Sarcomeres. In: Rassier, D. (eds) Muscle Biophysics. Advances in Experimental Medicine and Biology, vol 682. Springer, New York, NY. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4419-6366-6_8

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