Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

A comparison of the mechanical properties of oesophageal striated muscle with skeletal muscles of the guinea pig

  • Excitable Tissues and Central Nervous Physiology
  • Published:
Pflügers Archiv Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

An in vitro comparative study has been made of the contractile properties of guinea pig oesophageal striated muscle with fast twitch (extensor digitorum longus) and slow twitch (soleus) muscles. Histochemical analysis of sections showed oesophageal fibres to react in a manner typical of fast twitch muscles. Isometric measurements made at 23 and 37°C indicated that oesophageal striated muscle contracts at speeds similar to, but still significantly faster than soleus. Isotonic measurements of oesophageal preparations made at 23°C gave an intrinsic speed of shortening and ana/P o value derived from Hill's equation, comparable with that obtained for soleus. The reason for the contradiction between the results from histochemistry, and the results from isometric and isotonic contractions are not apparent, but may be due to differences in fibre arrangement between oesophagus and the two skeletal muscles.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  • Asmussen G, Gaunitz U (1978) The contractile properties of the striated muscle fibres of the oesophageal muscle in comparison to skeletal muscles of the rat. Acta Biol Med Ger 37:335–346

    Google Scholar 

  • Bárány M (1967) ATPase activity of myosin correlated with speed of muscle shortening. J Gen Physiol 50:197–218

    Google Scholar 

  • Bárány M, Close R (1971) The transformation of myosin in cross-innervated rat muscles. J Physiol 213:455–474

    Google Scholar 

  • Brown MC, Matthews PBC (1960) The effect on a muscle twitch of the back response of its motor nerve fibres. J Physiol 150:332–346

    Google Scholar 

  • Buller AJ, Kean CJC, Ranatunga KW (1971) The force-velocity characteristics of cat fast and slow-twitch skeletal muscle following cross-innervation. J Physiol 213:66P-67P

    Google Scholar 

  • Burke RE, Levine DN, Zajak FE, Tsairis P, Engel WK (1971) Mammalian motor units: physiological-histochemical correlation in three types in cat gastrocnemius. Science (NY) 174:709–712

    Google Scholar 

  • Close R (1964) Dynamic properties of fast and slow skeletal muscles of the rat during development. J Physiol 173:74–95

    Google Scholar 

  • Close R (1965) The relation between intrinsic speed of shortening and duration of the active state of muscle. J Physiol 180:542–559

    Google Scholar 

  • Close R (1967) Dynamic properties of fast and slow skeletal muscles of mammals. In: Milhorat AT (ed) Exploratory concepts in muscular dystrophy and related disorders. Exerpta Medica Foundation, Amsterdam

    Google Scholar 

  • Close R (1969) Dynamic properties of fast and slow skeletal muscles of the rat after nerve cross-union. J Physiol 204:331–346

    Google Scholar 

  • Close R (1972) Dynamic properties of mammalian skeletal muscle. Physiol Rev 52:129–197

    Google Scholar 

  • Close R, Hoh JFY (1968) The after effects of repetitive stimulation on the isometric twitch contraction of rat fast skeletal muscle. J Physiol 197:461–477

    Google Scholar 

  • Floyd K, Morrison JFB (1975) The mechanical properties of oesophageal striated muscle in the cat and sheep. J Physiol 248:717–724

    Google Scholar 

  • Goldspink G (1968) Sarcomere length during post-natal growth of mammalian muscle fibres. J Cell Sci 3:539–548

    Google Scholar 

  • Guth L, Samaha FJ (1969) Qualitative differences between actomyosin ATPase of slow and fast mammalian muscle. Exp Neurol 25:138–152

    Google Scholar 

  • Gutmann E, Melichna JA (1979)_Contractile and histochemical properties of denervated and reinnervated fast and slow skeletal muscles of newborn and adult guinea pigs. Physiol Bohemoslov 28:35–42

    Google Scholar 

  • Hill AV (1938) The heat of shortening and the dynamic constants of muscle. Proc Roy Soc B 126:136–195

    Google Scholar 

  • Wareham AC, Whitmore I (1980) Mechanical properties of oesophageal striated muscle from guinea pig. J Physiol 305:19p-20P

    Google Scholar 

  • Whitmore I (1978) Histochemical fibre types in striated muscle from guinea pig oesophagus. Experientia 34:1632

    Google Scholar 

  • Whitmore I (1982) Oesophageal striated muscle arrangement and histochemical fibre types in guinea pig, marmoset, macaque and man. J Anat 134:685–695

    Google Scholar 

  • Woledge RC (1968) The energetics of tortoise muscle. J Physiol 197:685–707

    Google Scholar 

  • Wells JB (1965) Comparison of mechanical properties between slow and fast mammalian muscles. J Physiol 178:252–269

    Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Physiology, University of Manchester, Stopford Building, M 13 9 PT, Manchester, UK

    Anthony C. Wareham

  2. Department of Anatomy, University of Manchester, Stopford Building, M 13 9 PT, Manchester, UK

    Ian Whitmore

Authors
  1. Anthony C. Wareham
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. Ian Whitmore
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Wareham, A.C., Whitmore, I. A comparison of the mechanical properties of oesophageal striated muscle with skeletal muscles of the guinea pig. Pflugers Arch. 395, 312–317 (1982). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00580795

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Accepted:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00580795

Key words

Search

Navigation