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Tonic force maintenance after decay of active state in brachiopod smooth adductor muscle

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Summary

  1. 1.

    Contraction of smooth adductor muscles (SmA) in the brachiopod,Laqueus californicus, is followed by very slow relaxation (R 1/2=3 min). The period during which the cross-bridges are in the active state extends from the time of activation to a short time after peak tension is reached. The delayed relaxation phase represents tension maintenance in the absence of the active state.

  2. 2.

    The contraction characteristics of these muscles were compared to those during the catch contractions of mollusc adductor muscles. The immediate elasticity of brachiopod SmA, defined as the change in tension in response to quick length changes, is the same during the contraction and relaxation phases. The immediate elasticity of mollusc catch muscles is greater during the tonic relaxation (catch) than the active contraction phase (Pfitzer and Rüegg 1982).

  3. 3.

    When exposed to CO2, the SmA, whether relaxed or during contraction, enter a reversible rigor-like state of stretch resistance. The immediate elastic modulus during these conditions was the same as during normal contractions.

  4. 4.

    The results indicate that the same physical linkages, probably actomyosin cross-bridges, are responsible for all phases of the contraction/relaxation cycle and also during CO2 induced rigor-like stiffness.

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Abbreviations

ABRM :

anterior byssus retractor muscle

ACh :

acetylcholine

ASW :

artificial sea water

EMG :

electromyogram

ΔL :

step length change

L o :

resting fiber length

ΔP :

recovery of tension 6 sec after length change

ΔP/ΔL :

static elastic modulus

QR :

quick release of tension by step length change

R 1/2 :

half relaxation time

SmA :

smooth adductor muscle

T o :

tension immediately preceding length change

T 1 :

immediate change in tension following step length change

T 1/ΔL :

immediate elastic modulus

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Biology, University of Calgary, T2N 1N4, Calgary, Canada

    Jerrel L. Wilkens

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  1. Jerrel L. Wilkens
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Wilkens, J.L. Tonic force maintenance after decay of active state in brachiopod smooth adductor muscle. J Comp Physiol B 157, 651–658 (1987). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00700986

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00700986

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