Effects of growth on architecture and functional characteristics of adult rat gastrocnemius muscle

Heslinga, J. W.; Huijing, P.A.J.B.M.

doi:10.1002/jmor.1052060112

Cited by 49 publications

(67 citation statements)

References 27 publications

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“…As a consequence, the anatomy, physiology and mechanical properties of these muscles are well characterized. Soleus (SO) and gastrocnemii (GAS; medial and lateral gastrocnemius, MG and LG, respectively) muscles share a similar anatomical location and function at the ankle joint, but differ substantially in pennation angle (Close, 1964;Heslinga and Huijing, 1990) and fiber type composition (Armstrong and Phelps, 1984). The SO is mainly composed of slow-twitch oxidative fibers (87%), while the LG and MG consist mainly of fast-twitch oxidative-glycolytic (28%) or fast-twitch glycolytic (65%) fibers (Armstrong and Phelps, 1984).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Longitudinal and transversal displacements between triceps surae muscles during locomotion of the rat

Bernabei

Dieën

Maas

2017

Journal of Experimental Biology

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The functional consequences of differential muscle activation and contractile behavior between mechanically coupled synergists are still poorly understood. Even though synergistic muscles exert similar mechanical effects at the joint they span, differences in the anatomy, morphology and neural drive may lead to non-uniform contractile conditions. This study aimed to investigate the patterns of activation and contractile behavior of triceps surae muscles, to understand how these contribute to the relative displacement between the one-joint soleus (SO) and two-joint lateral gastrocnemius (LG) muscle bellies and their distal tendons during locomotion in the rat. In seven rats, muscle belly lengths and muscle activation during level and upslope trotting were measured by sonomicrometry crystals and electromyographic electrodes chronically implanted in the SO and LG. Length changes of muscle-tendon units (MTUs) and tendon fascicles were estimated based on joint kinematics and muscle belly lengths. Distances between implanted crystals were further used to assess longitudinal and transversal deformations of the intermuscular volume between the SO and LG. For both slope conditions, we observed differential timing of muscle activation as well as substantial differences in contraction speeds between muscle bellies (maximal relative speed 55.9 mm s −1 ). Muscle lengths and velocities did not differ significantly between level and upslope locomotion, only EMG amplitude of the LG was affected by slope. Relative displacements between SO and LG MTUs were found in both longitudinal and transversal directions, yielding an estimated maximal length change difference of 2.0 mm between their distal tendons. Such relative displacements may have implications for the force exchanged via intermuscular and intertendinous pathways.

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Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Longitudinal and transversal displacements between triceps surae muscles during locomotion of the rat

Bernabei

Dieën

Maas

2017

Journal of Experimental Biology

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“…It is obvious that such conditions constitute a signal for adaptation of serial sarcomere number as well as A f . Generally, in healthy animals for both variables sizable increases have been reported accompanied by increase in optimum length (Crawford, 1954;Goldspink, 1964Goldspink, , 1968Williams & Goldspink, 1971;Tardieu et al, 1977;de Koning et al, 1987;Heslinga & Huijing, 1990;Heslinga et al, 1995).…”

Section: Natural Growthmentioning

confidence: 99%

Adaptation of muscle size and myofascial force transmission: a review and some new experimental results

Huijing

Jaspers

2005

Scandinavian Med Sci Sports

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128

106

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This paper considers the literature and some new experimental results important for adaptation of muscle fiber cross‐sectional area and serial sarcomere number. Two major points emerge: (1) general rules for the regulation of adaptation (for in vivo immobilization, low gravity conditions, synergist ablation, tenotomy and retinaculum trans‐section experiments) cannot be derived. As a consequence, paradoxes are reported in the literature. Some paradoxes are resolved by considering the interaction between different levels of organization (e.g. muscle geometrical effects), but others cannot. (2) An inventory of signal transduction pathways affecting rates of muscle protein synthesis and/or degradation reveals controversy concerning the pathways and their relative contributions. A major explanation for the above is not only the inherently limited control of the experimental conditions in vivo, but also of in situ experiments. Culturing of mature single Xenopus muscle fibers at high and low lengths (allowing longitudinal study of adaptation for periods up to 3 months) did not yield major changes in the fiber cross‐sectional area or the serial sarcomere number. This is very different from substantial effects (within days) of immobilization in vivo. It is concluded that overall strain does not uniquely regulate muscle fiber size. Force transmission, via pathways other than the myotendinous junctions, may contribute to the discrepancies reported: because of substantial serial heterogeneity of sarcomere lengths within muscle fibers creating local variations in the mechanical stimuli for adaptation. For the single muscle fiber, mechanical signalling is quite different from the in vivo or in vitro condition. Removal of tensile and shear effects of neighboring tissues (even of antagonistic muscle) modifies or removes mechanical stimuli for adaptation. It is concluded that the study of adaptation of muscle size requires an integrative approach taking into account fundamental mechanisms of adaptation, as well as effects of higher levels of organization. More attention should be paid to adaptation of connective tissues within and surrounding the muscle and their effects on muscular properties.

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“…In rat muscle | Huijing. 1988: Huijing cl al.. 1989: Heslinga and Huijing. 1990: Zuurbier and Huijing, 1992: Willems and Hui jing, 1993.…”

Section: Distribution O F Sarcomere Lent'tit O F Different Fibresmentioning

confidence: 99%

A Comparison of Rat Extensor digitorum longus and Gastrocnemius medialis Muscle Architecture and Length-Force Characteristics

Huijing¹,

Nieberg²,

Veen³

et al. 1994

Cells Tissues Organs

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During isometric contractions, muscle length, fibre and aponeurosis length and angles, and force exerted were quantified in order to assess factors contributing to length range of active force exertion. Comparisons of rat gastrocnemius medialis (GM) and extensor digitorum longus (EDL) muscles are of interest as fibre and aponeurosis length as determined at muscle optimum length are similar but fibre and aponeurosis angle are considerably smaller for EDL than for GM. On the basis of this, a wider length range between muscle optimum and active slack length was predicted initially for GM because of the expected higher angular contribution to accumulated length change. However, measurements of length-force characteristics revealed similar values for this length range. Therefore, quantification of length changes of fibre and aponeurosis as well of angular contributions to this length range was performed. Compared to their value at muscle optimum length, changes of fibre length were very similar for the two muscles. Fibre length changes normalized for muscle length changes ranged from approximately 90% near optimum length to approximately 65% near active slack length. Aponeurosis length changes normalized for muscle length changes were similar near optimum length for both muscles (approximately 5%) but deviated substantially near muscle active slack length (approximately 20% for GM and 35% for EDL). Cumulative angular contributions to muscular length changes were maximally 6% for EDL and 14% for GM. The reason for the relatively large length change of EDL aponeurosis could not be explained by different material properties but is likely to be related to yet an additional factor contributing to length range of active force generation: the distribution of mean sarcomere length of fibres with respect to muscle length. A piece of evidence for possible differences in such a distribution between GM and EDL is the difference of muscle length (approximately 1 and 2 mm over muscle optimum length respectively) at which optimum sarcomere length was found for distal fibres of the muscles.

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Effects of growth on architecture and functional characteristics of adult rat gastrocnemius muscle

Cited by 49 publications

References 27 publications

Longitudinal and transversal displacements between triceps surae muscles during locomotion of the rat

Longitudinal and transversal displacements between triceps surae muscles during locomotion of the rat

Adaptation of muscle size and myofascial force transmission: a review and some new experimental results

A Comparison of Rat Extensor digitorum longus and Gastrocnemius medialis Muscle Architecture and Length-Force Characteristics

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