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Physiological reports2014; 2(10); e12174; doi: 10.14814/phy2.12174

Frequency dependence of power and its implications for contractile function of muscle fibers from the digital flexors of horses.

Abstract: The digital flexors of horses must produce high force to support the body weight during running, and a need for these muscles to generate power is likely limited during locomotion over level ground. Measurements of power output from horse muscle fibers close to physiological temperatures, and when cyclic strain is imposed, will help to better understand the in vivo performance of the muscles as power absorbers and generators. Skinned fibers from the deep (DDF) and superficial (SDF) digital flexors, and the soleus (SOL) underwent sinusoidal oscillations in length over a range of frequencies (0.5-16 Hz) and strain amplitudes (0.01-0.06) under maximum activation (pCa 5) at 30°C. Results were analyzed using both workloop and Nyquist plot analyses to determine the ability of the fibers to absorb or generate power and the frequency dependence of those abilities. Power absorption was dominant at most cycling frequencies and strain amplitudes in fibers from all three muscles. However, small amounts of power were generated (0.002-0.05 Wkg(-1)) at 0.01 strain by all three muscles at relatively slow cycling frequencies: DDF (4-7 Hz), SDF (4-5 Hz) and SOL (0.5-1 Hz). Nyquist analysis, reflecting the influence of cross-bridge kinetics on power generation, corroborated these results. The similar capacity for power generation by DDF and SDF versus lower for SOL, and the faster frequency at which this power was realized in DDF and SDF fibers, are largely explained by the fast myosin heavy chain isoform content in each muscle. Contractile function of DDF and SDF as power absorbers and generators, respectively, during locomotion may therefore be more dependent on their fiber architectural arrangement than on the physiological properties of their muscle fibers.
© 2014 The Authors. Physiological Reports published by Wiley Periodicals, Inc. on behalf of the American Physiological Society and The Physiological Society.
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Publication Date: 2014-10-07 PubMed ID: 25293602PubMed Central: PMC4254099DOI: 10.14814/phy2.12174Google Scholar: Lookup
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Summary

This research summary has been generated with artificial intelligence and may contain errors and omissions. Refer to the original study to confirm details provided. Submit correction.

The research focuses on understanding the power generation and absorption capacities of muscle fibers in the digital flexors of horses. It concludes that the power absorption dominates in the muscles, with some power generated at slow cycling frequencies. The ability to generate or absorb power is dependent on the frequency and strain amplitude.

Research Methodology

  • The researchers studied the skinned fibers from the deep and superficial digital flexors, and the soleus muscle of horses.
  • These muscles underwent sinusoidal oscillations over a range of frequencies (0.5-16 Hz) and strain amplitudes (0.01-0.06) under maximum activation.
  • The conditions were maintained close to physiological temperatures and the experiments were performed at 30°C.
  • The data were analyzed using both workloop and Nyquist plot analyses to determine the power generation and absorption capacities of the muscle fibers.

Results and Analysis

  • Power absorption was found to be dominant at most cycling frequencies and strain amplitudes in fibers from all three muscles studied.
  • However, small amounts of power were generated at a strain of 0.01 by all three muscles at relatively slow cycling frequencies.
  • The deep and superficial digital flexors generated power at 4-7 Hz and 4-5 Hz respectively, while the soleus muscle generated power at a frequency of 0.5-1 Hz.
  • A Nyquist analysis was used as supporting evidence, demonstrating how cross-bridge kinetics influence power generation.

Implications and Conclusions

  • The research findings suggest that the ability of these horse muscles to generate or absorb power is frequency-dependent.
  • Power generation was found to be more effective at slower cycling frequencies.
  • The deep and superficial digital flexors and the soleus showed a similar capacity for power generation, but the speed at which this power was realized differed based on the myosin heavy chain isoform content in each muscle.
  • The researchers conclude that the contractile function of the deep and superficial digital flexors as power absorbers and generators during locomotion may be more dependent on their fiber architectural arrangement than on the specific physiological properties of their muscle fibers.

Cite This Article

APA
Butcher MT, Bertram JE, Syme DA, Hermanson JW, Chase PB. (2014). Frequency dependence of power and its implications for contractile function of muscle fibers from the digital flexors of horses. Physiol Rep, 2(10), e12174. https://doi.org/10.14814/phy2.12174

Publication

Physiological reports
ISSN: 2051-817X
NlmUniqueID: 101607800
Country: United States
Language: English
Volume: 2
Issue: 10
PII: e12174

Researcher Affiliations

Butcher, Michael T
  • Department of Biological Sciences, Youngstown State University, Youngstown, Ohio, USA.
Bertram, John E A
  • Department of Cell Biology and Anatomy, Faculty of Medicine, University of Calgary, Calgary, Alberta, Canada.
Syme, Douglas A
  • Department of Biological Sciences, University of Calgary, Calgary, Alberta, Canada.
Hermanson, John W
  • Department of Biomedical Sciences, College of Veterinary Medicine, Cornell University, Ithaca, New York, USA.
Chase, P Bryant
  • Department of Biological Science, Florida State University, Tallahassee, Florida, USA.

Grant Funding

  • R01 HL063974 / NHLBI NIH HHS

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