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Pflugers Archiv : European journal of physiology2005; 452(2); 222-230; doi: 10.1007/s00424-005-0017-6

Scaling of skeletal muscle shortening velocity in mammals representing a 100,000-fold difference in body size.

Abstract: To fully understand the effect of scaling on skeletal muscle shortening velocity (V (0)), it is important to know which phenotypic characteristics drive the changes between species. The purpose of the current investigation was to compare the effects of body mass and femur length, as an estimate of total limb length, on V (0) in species that cover a 100,000-fold range of body masses. Using the slack test procedure, V (0) was determined for fibers expressing types I and IIa myosin heavy chain (MyHC) isoforms in the mouse, rat, dog, human, horse, and rhinoceros under identical experimental conditions. A significant scaling effect on V (0) was detected when compared to body mass (type I fibers, r=0.95, p<0.01; type IIa fibers, r=0.83, p<0.05). However, the horse's V (0) for both fiber types was faster than the human's, despite having a 5-fold greater body mass than the human. When V (0) was scaled vs limb length, the strength of the relationships improved in fibers expressing both types I and IIa MyHC (r=0.98, p<0.001, and r=0.89, p<0.05, respectively) and scaled with the expected relationship, with the species with the shorter femur, the horse, having the faster V (0). A similar effect can be seen with stride frequency scaling more closely with limb length than body mass. These results suggest that limb length, not body mass, is a more relevant factor driving the scaling effect on skeletal muscle shortening velocity.
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Publication Date: 2005-12-07 PubMed ID: 16333661DOI: 10.1007/s00424-005-0017-6Google 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 indicates that limb length, rather than body mass, plays a more significant role in determining the shortening velocity of skeletal muscles in mammals of varying sizes. The investigation spanned species with a 100,000-fold difference in body size.

Objective of the Research

  • The main aim of this study was to analyze the effects of body mass and femur length (reflecting total limb length) on the shortening velocity (V (0)) of skeletal muscles. The goal was to identify the primary phenotypic traits that govern these changes across various species.

Methodology and Species Studied

  • The species studied had substantial variations in their body mass, with a range extending up to 100,000-fold differences. They included the mouse, rat, dog, human, horse, and rhinoceros.
  • The researchers used the slack test procedure to find the V (0) for fibers that express type I and IIa myosin heavy chain (MyHC) isoforms in these species.
  • All experimental conditions were kept identical across the tests to ensure a fair comparison.

Results of the Investigation

  • A significant scaling effect on the muscle shortening velocity (V (0)) was identified when compared against body mass. This was evidenced by a correlation coefficient (r) analysis returning r-values of 0.95 and 0.83 for type I and type IIa fibers, respectively.
  • Despite these findings, some anomalies were found. For instance, horses exhibited faster V (0) speeds for both fiber types compared to humans, despite being approximately five times heavier.
  • When the researchers compared V (0) scaling against limb length, they found stronger correlations. The relationships improved for both type I (r=0.98) and IIa fibers (r=0.89).
  • This scaling appeared in accordance with expectations – species like horses with shorter femurs had faster V (0).
  • Such a trend also became noticeable when considering stride frequency, which scaled more closely with limb length than with body mass.

Conclusion of the Research

  • The findings indicate that limb length is a more critical factor than body mass when considering the scaling effect on skeletal muscle shortening velocity among different mammal species.

Cite This Article

APA
Marx JO, Olsson MC, Larsson L. (2005). Scaling of skeletal muscle shortening velocity in mammals representing a 100,000-fold difference in body size. Pflugers Arch, 452(2), 222-230. https://doi.org/10.1007/s00424-005-0017-6

Publication

Pflugers Archiv : European journal of physiology
ISSN: 0031-6768
NlmUniqueID: 0154720
Country: Germany
Language: English
Volume: 452
Issue: 2
Pages: 222-230

Researcher Affiliations

Marx, James O
  • Department of Biology, The University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA 19104, USA.
Olsson, M Charlotte
    Larsson, Lars

      MeSH Terms

      • Animals
      • Anthropometry
      • Body Size / physiology
      • Dogs
      • Femur / anatomy & histology
      • Horses
      • Humans
      • In Vitro Techniques
      • Mice
      • Muscle Contraction / physiology
      • Muscle Fibers, Skeletal / cytology
      • Muscle Fibers, Skeletal / physiology
      • Muscle, Skeletal / metabolism
      • Muscle, Skeletal / physiology
      • Myosin Heavy Chains / metabolism
      • Myosin Heavy Chains / physiology
      • Perissodactyla
      • Rats
      • Rats, Sprague-Dawley

      Grant Funding

      • AR08603 / NIAMS NIH HHS
      • AR45627 / NIAMS NIH HHS
      • AR47318 / NIAMS NIH HHS

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