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Variation in the determinants of power of chemically skinned type I rat soleus muscle fibres

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Abstract

We explored to which extent maximal velocity of shortening (Vmax), force per cross-sectional area (specific tension, Po) and curvature of the force–velocity relationship (a/Po in the Hill equation) contribute to differences in peak power of single, chemically skinned rat type I fibres. Force–velocity relationships were determined from isotonic contractions of 94 maximally activated fibres. Peak power (±SD) was 3.50 ± 1.64 W L−1. There was a tenfold range of peak power and five-, six- and fourfold ranges for Po, Vmax and a/Po, respectively. None of the differences between fibres was explicable by differences in myosin heavy or light chain composition. The inverse relationship between a/Po and Vmax suggests a similar underlying cause. Fitting the data to the Huxley (Progr Biophys Biophys Chem 7:255–318, 1957) cross-bridge model showed that the rate constant g 2 and the sum of the rate constants (f + g 1) co-varied, both being low in the slowest fibres. Approximately 16% of the variation in Po could be explained by variation in the proportion of attached cycling cross-bridges (f/(f + g 1)), but the origin of most of the variance in Po remains unknown.

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Abbreviations

a/Po:

Indication of curvature of the force–velocity relationship

CSA:

Cross-sectional area

EGTA:

Ethylene glycol tetra-acetic acid

f :

Rate constant of cross-bridge attachment

g 1 :

Rate constant of cross-bridge detachment within the positive working range

g 2 :

Rate constant for cross-bridge detachment once the cross-bridge has passed the neutral position and begins to oppose shortening

M :

Fraction maximal force or shortening velocity at which peak power is generated

MHC:

Myosin heavy chain

MLC:

Myosin light chain

Po:

Specific tension, or force per fibre cross-sectional area

SDS-PAGE:

Sodium dodecyl sulfate polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis

Vmax:

Maximal velocity of shortening

Vopt:

Shortening velocity at which maximal power is produced

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Acknowledgments

We appreciate the help of the technical staff of the animal houses at Manchester University and the Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam for the care of the animals.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Institute for Biomedical Research into Human Movement and Health, Manchester Metropolitan University, John Dalton Building, Oxford Road, Manchester, M5 1GD, UK

    Sally F. Gilliver, David A. Jones, Jörn Rittweger & Hans Degens

  2. Department for Space Physiology, Institute of Aerospace Medicine, German Aerospace Center (DLR), Linder Höhe, 51147, Cologne, Germany

    Jörn Rittweger

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  1. Sally F. Gilliver
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  2. David A. Jones
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  3. Jörn Rittweger
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  4. Hans Degens
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Correspondence to Hans Degens.

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Gilliver, S.F., Jones, D.A., Rittweger, J. et al. Variation in the determinants of power of chemically skinned type I rat soleus muscle fibres. J Comp Physiol A 197, 311–319 (2011). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00359-010-0613-6

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00359-010-0613-6

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