Summary
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1.
The physiological characteristics of the chick anterior latissimus dorsi muscle were measured and compared with those of the adjacent posterior latissimus dorsi muscle. The rate of shortening of the anterior latissimus dorsi was about 15 times slower than that of the posterior muscle.
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2.
The anterior latissimus dorsi was found to be able to sustain isometric tension for long periods of time. In spite of this the resting ATP level of this muscle was only 1 μmole/g whereas in the posterior muscle it was about 3 μmoles/g.
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3.
The amount of ATP used by the anterior latissimus dorsi in performing isotonic work and in maintaining isometric tension was measured. This involved incubating the muscles for 40 min in a 0.38 mM solution of 2,4 dinitrofluorobenzene (DNFB) solution in Ringer at 2° C. The muscles were rapidly frozen during contraction by immersion in a mixture of Freons 12 and 13 cooled to −160° C.
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The anterior latissimus dorsi was found to be relatively inefficient at performing isotonic work (Efficiency=100 g cm/μmole of ATP per g) but very efficient in maintaining isometric tension. Very little ATP was used in maintaining isometric tension for periods as long as a minute.
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5.
The results were compared with those for hamster muscles presented in a following paper.
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On leave from the University of Hull, England.
Whilst this work was being carried out two of the authors (R.E.D. and G.G.) were in receipt of research grants from the Muscular Dystrophy Associations of America. Professor R. E. Davies was also in receipt of U.S.P.H.S. research grants HE 02520-12 and GM 00694-7. Dr. G. Goldspink also-wishes to acknowledge the receipt of a Welcome Trust Travel Grant for travel to the U.S.A. in order to carry out this work. The authors are also grateful for the valuable technical assistance rendered by Mr. S. E. Waterson and Miss Margaretta Svensson.
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Goldspink, G., Larson, R.E. & Davies, R.E. Thermodynamic efficiency and physiological characteristics of the chick anterior latissimus dorsi muscle. Z. Vergl. Physiol. 66, 379–388 (1970). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00299937
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00299937