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Changes in stiffness induced by hindlimb suspension in rat soleus muscle

  • Original Article
  • Neurophysiology, Muscle and Sensory Organs
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Abstract

Soleus muscle atrophy was induced by hindlimb suspension of rats for 3 weeks with the intention of inducing a relative increase in the percentage of fast twitch fibres and assessing modifications in muscle stiffness. A method of dual controlled releases was used to obtain tension/extension curves and force/velocity relationships characterizing the mechanical behaviour of the soleus. Fibre typing was achieved by myofibrillar adenosine 5′-triphosphatase staining. Results showed that hindlimb suspension decreased the percentage of slowtwitch fibres (−31%) to the profit of fast-twitch fibres (+370%) and intermediate fibres (+255%). This led to an increase in maximal shortening velocity. Tension/extension curves indicated a decrease in soleus stiffness after 3 weeks of unloading. Changes in elastic properties are interpreted in terms of modifications occurring in the active part and the passive part of the so-called series elastic component. These changes also suggest that the parameters derived from a twitch are inappropriate to account for modifications in speed-related properties of muscle.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Département de Génie Biologique, URA CNRS 858, Université de Technologie, BP 649, F-60206, Compiègne Cedex, France

    F. Goubel

  2. Département de Physiologie Systémique, Centre d'Etudes et de Recherches de Médecine Aérospatiale, CEV, F-91228, Brétigny sur Orge., France

    F. Canon

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  1. F. Canon
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Canon, F., Goubel, F. Changes in stiffness induced by hindlimb suspension in rat soleus muscle. Pflugers Arch. 429, 332–337 (1995). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00374147

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00374147

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