Your browser doesn't support javascript.
loading
The interaction of in vivo muscle operating lengths and passive stiffness in rat hindlimbs.
Horner, Angela M; Azizi, Emanuel; Roberts, Thomas J.
Afiliação
  • Horner AM; Department of Biology, California State University, San Bernardino, CA 92407, USA.
  • Azizi E; School of Biological Sciences, Department of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology, University of California, Irvine, CA 92697, USA.
  • Roberts TJ; Division of Biology and Medicine, Brown University, Providence, RI 02912, USA.
J Exp Biol ; 227(5)2024 03 01.
Article em En | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-38353270
ABSTRACT
The operating length of a muscle is a key determinant of its ability to produce force in vivo. Muscles that operate near the peak of their force-length relationship will generate higher forces whereas muscle operating at relatively short length may be safe from sudden lengthening perturbations and subsequent damage. At longer lengths, passive mechanical properties have the potential to contribute to force or constrain operating length with stiffer muscle-tendon units theoretically being restricted to shorter lengths. Connective tissues typically increase in density during aging, thus increasing passive muscle stiffness and potentially limiting the operating lengths of muscle during locomotion. Here, we compare in vivo and in situ muscle strain from the medial gastrocnemius in young (7 months old) and aged (30-32 months old) rats presumed to have varying passive tissue stiffness to test the hypothesis that stiffer muscles operate at shorter lengths relative to their force-length relationship. We measured in vivo muscle operating length during voluntary locomotion on inclines and flat trackways and characterized the muscle force-length relationship of the medial gastrocnemius using fluoromicrometry. Although no age-related results were evident, rats of both age groups demonstrated a clear relationship between passive stiffness and in vivo operating length, such that shorter operating lengths were significantly correlated with greater passive stiffness. Our results suggest that increased passive stiffness may restrict muscles to operating lengths shorter than optimal lengths, potentially limiting force capacity during locomotion.
Assuntos
Palavras-chave

Texto completo: 1 Coleções: 01-internacional Base de dados: MEDLINE Assunto principal: Tendões / Músculo Esquelético Limite: Animals Idioma: En Ano de publicação: 2024 Tipo de documento: Article

Texto completo: 1 Coleções: 01-internacional Base de dados: MEDLINE Assunto principal: Tendões / Músculo Esquelético Limite: Animals Idioma: En Ano de publicação: 2024 Tipo de documento: Article