Light and electron microscopic studies on rat arterial lesions induced by experimental arterial contraction

Summary Experimental contraction was produced in the rat mesenteric arteries and the arterial segments were studied morphologically. When the rat mesenteric artery was exposed in physiological saline solution at 37° C and 2–3 mg of methoxamine hydrochloride (10 mg/ml) was dripped onto it, intense contraction was observed for about 30 min but elevation in blood pressure was slight. During the contraction, numerous vacuoles were seen in the medial smooth muscle cells of the arterial segments, and these vacuoles were shown electron microscopically to have double unit membranes, indicating that they were formed by herniation of a part of the adjacent smooth muscle cell body. In the arteries 1–6 h after the end of the contraction, cellular, nuclear and vacuolar membranes and myofilaments of the medial muscle cells were partially lost. 12–24 h after the contraction the arteries exhibited necrosis and desquamation of endothelial cells and platelet adhesion. In the media, smooth muscle cells were completely deprived of cell membranes, myofilaments, nuclei, intracytoplasmic organelles other than mitochondria, and vacuolar membranes. The cytoplasm was filled with fine granular and granulo-vesicular material, and fibrin insudation was observed in these severely damaged cells. Arterial contraction may be an important factor in the induction of arterial lesions.     

Spontaneous tension oscillation in skinned bovine cardiac muscle

 Skinned fibres from bovine ventricles exhibited spontaneous tension oscillations when MgADP and inorganic phosphate (Pi) were added to the solution bathing fibres in the relaxed state (ADP-SPOC). A similar type of oscillation was observed at intermediate concentrations of free Ca²⁺ in the absence of MgADP and Pi (Ca-SPOC). To investigate the correlation between ADP-SPOC and Ca-SPOC, we constructed two-dimensional state diagrams of cardiac muscle using different concentrations of Pi (0–20 mM) and free Ca²⁺ [pCa=around 5 (+Ca²⁺), pCa=5.15–6.9 and +EGTA (–Ca²⁺)], with varying concentrations of MgADP (0–10 mM), with 2 mM MgATP and 2 mM free Mg²⁺ maintaining ionic strength at 0.15±0.01 M, pH 7.0, 25 °C. The three-dimensional (pCa-Pi-MgADP) state diagram thus obtained was divided into three regions, i.e. the contraction region in which tension oscillation was undetectable, the spontaneous tension oscillation (SPOC) region and the relaxation region. We found that the regions of ADP-SPOC and Ca-SPOC were continuously connected by a single oscillation region sandwiched between the contraction and relaxation regions. The state diagram, which encompasses physiological conditions, shows that the probability of SPOC is higher in cardiac muscle than in skeletal muscle. From these results, we suggest that, despite distinct ionic conditions, the molecular state of cross-bridges during SPOC is common to both ADP-SPOC and Ca-SPOC. Received 19 February 1996 / Received after revision: 16 July 1996 / Accepted: 14 August 1996     

利用表面肌电信号评价肌肉疲劳的方法

表面肌电信号分析是评价局部肌肉疲劳有效的工具。过去由于受信号处理技术的限制,对肌肉疲劳的评价仅局限于等长、恒力收缩。由于适合于非平稳信号分析的频谱估计技术的发展,使得动态收缩条件下的肌肉疲劳评价得以实现,在工效学、康复医学和运动医学等方面开启了新的应用领域。本文论述了利用表面肌电信号评价肌肉疲劳,特别是在肌肉动态收缩期间评价肌肉疲劳的方法,为进一步探讨肌肉疲劳的发生机制提供理论依据。     

Effect of contraction on lymphatic,venous, and tissue electrolytes and metabolites in rabbit skeletal muscle

Summary The effect of muscle contraction on lymphatic and plasma [K⁺], [Na⁺], [Ca²⁺], [Mg²⁺], [Cl^–], [P_i], [lactate] ([Lac^–]); [creatine] ([Cr]), ideal osmolality (OSM), and [protein] was evaluated in femoral venous blood and lymph specimens sampled from the calf muscles of rabbits before, in the course of, and after contractions. In addition, total [K⁺], [Na⁺], [Ca²⁺], [Mg²⁺], [Cl^–], and [H₂O] were analyzed in the muscle tissue. To facilitate lymph sampling both hind limbs were passively flexed and extended, in imitation of natural running movements, by an electrically driven crank. The muscles of one side also performed superimposed rhythmic isotonic contractions. Before contractions, lymphatic [K⁺], [Na⁺], [Ca²⁺], [Mg²⁺], [Lac^–], [Cr], and OSM did not significantly differ from corresponding femoral venous concentrations, [Cl^–], and [P_i] were significantly higher, [protein] significantly lower in the lymph than in the plasma. During contractions lymphatic [K⁺], OSM, [Lac^–], and [P_i] were raised significantly more in the lymph compared with the plasma concentrations. [Na⁺], [Cl^–], [Ca²⁺], and [Mg²⁺] showed only small changes in the course of contractions and thereafter, and they were altered in a similar way in the lymph and plasma. It was suggested that lymphatic and interstitial concentrations were in equilibrium. Comparing inactive with active muscles, the latter lost K⁺ but gained Na⁺, Cl^–, and H₂O, whereas minimal changes occurred in the [Ca²⁺] and [Mg²⁺]. The changes were discussed in connection with the hypothesis that electrolyte shifts might be involved in the activation of the muscular non-proprioceptive interstitial nerve endings which appear to play a role in reflexogenic cardiovascular and respiratory control.A preliminary report of this work has been given elsewhere [33]Supported by Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft     

Effect of postactivation potentiation on dynamic knee extension performance

Six men and four women performed, in separate trials, maximal dynamic knee extensions with loads of 15%, 30%, 45% and 60% of maximal isometric knee extension peak torque (MVC). The dynamic extensions were done after postactivation potentiation (PAP) had been induced with a 10-s MVC, and in a control trial without PAP. PAP, measured as the increase in evoked twitch torque, was 53 (4)% (SE) and 43 (3)% at the time of the first and second extensions with each load. PAP failed to increase the attained peak velocity with any load; on the contrary, there was a trend for peak velocity to decrease in the first extension, which occurred ≅15 s after the 10-s MVC. The results suggest that fatigue produced by the 10-s MVC suppressed any benefit that could be derived from the induced PAP. A surface electromyogram (EMG) recorded from one muscle of quadriceps femoris gave no indication of activation failure in the first knee extension; however, activation impairment specific to the rate of force development cannot be ruled out. It is concluded that the strategy employed, namely of having knee extensions performed soon after the 10-s MVC to maximize PAP at the time of performance, was unsuccessful because there had been insufficient time for recovery from fatigue. It is possible that a longer recovery time, even at the cost of a diminished PAP, may have proved beneficial. Accepted: 27 July 2000     

Changes in the P100 latency of the visual evoked potential and the saccadic reaction time during isometric contraction of the shoulder girdle elevators

We investigated changes in the P100 latency of the visual evoked potential (VEP) and the saccadic reaction time (SRT) in relation to the degree of activity of the shoulder girdle elevators. Muscle force was set in 10% increments from 0% to 50% of the maximal voluntary contraction (MVC). The VEP was derived from a midline occipital electrode with reference electrodes on the ears when the right retina was stimulated through the eyelid by light emitting diodes while the eyes were closed. The P100 latency of the VEP was defined as the time from the stimulus onset to the main positive peak. The SRT was defined as the latency until the beginning of eye movement toward the lateral target, which was moved at random time-intervals. P100 latency was shortened until 30% of the MVC, and which it lengthened. The SRT changed in a pattern similar to that observed for the P100 latency. The ratio of the shortening in P100 latency relative to that of the SRT was approximately 20%. All data is presented as the mean value, plus the standard deviation. We believe that the information processing time in the neural pathway from the retina to the visual cortex was shortened up to a certain muscle force of the shoulder girdle elevators, and then this processing time lengthened. These findings indicate that shortening of information processing time in the neural pathway beyond the visual cortex is included in the shortening of the SRT.     

Effect of muscle length on surface EMG wave forms in isometric contractions

Summary To elucidate the influence of muscle length on surface EMG wave form, comparisons were made of surface EMGs of the biceps and triceps brachii muscles during isometric contractions at different muscle lengths. Muscle lengths were altered by setting the elbow joint angle at several intervals between the limits of extension and flexion. The intensity of the isometric contractions was 25% of maximum voluntary contraction at the individual joint angles. Slowing was obvious in the EMG wave forms of biceps as muscle length increased. The so-called Piper rhythm appeared when the muscle was more than moderately lengthened. The slowing trend with muscle lengthening, though less marked, was also seen in triceps. Zero-cross analysis revealed quasi-linear relationships between muscle length and slowing. Frequency analysis confirmed the development of Piper rhythm. An attempt was made to interpret the slowing associated with muscle lengthening in terms of the propagation of myoelectric signals in muscle fibers. Given the effect of muscle length on EMG wave forms, a careful control of joint angle may be required in assessing local muscle fatigue when using EMG spectral indices.     

内脏高敏感大鼠结肠电活动及运动异常

目的探讨内脏高敏感大鼠结肠电活动及运动的特点。方法实验分对照组和模型组,模型组腹腔注射鸡卵清蛋白使大鼠内脏致敏。2周后,记录结肠快波、慢波及收缩波,观察消化间期移行性综合肌电IMC的周期、Ⅲ期持续时间、快波和慢波的波动频率及平均最大振幅,记录结肠收缩波数目及收缩波指数。结果模型组消化间期复合肌电的周期延长(P<0·01),Ⅲ期持续时间延长(P<0·01),快波的波动率加快(P<0·05),平均最大振幅增大(P<0·01)。慢波的波动频率加快(P<0·05),平均最大振幅增大(P<0·01)。收缩波数目增加(P<0·05),收缩波指数增大(P<0·05)。结论内脏高敏感大鼠结肠电活动及运动有明显异常。     

Changes in the surface electromyogram during increasing isometric shoulder forward flexions

Summary When using electromyographic techniques in the evaluation of muscular load it is necessary to determine the mathematical relationship between the torque and the amplitude of the electromyographic signal. Isometric gradually increasing contractions up to 100% MVC can then be used. Often more than linear increases for the amplitude (RMS) — force regression have been reported. The present study was designed to test whether changes in power spectral density function take place during a gradually increasing isometric contraction (duration 10 s). Twenty-two clinically healthy females performed an increasing isometric shoulder forward flexion for 10 s using an isokinetic dynamometer. Electromyographic activity was measured in trapezius, deltoid, infraspinatus and biceps brachii using surface electrodes. Mean torque values were determined together with mean power frequency (MPF) and root mean square values (RMS) from the EMG signals for each 256 ms period. The RMS-torque regressions showed higher regression coefficients during the 6th to 9th sec than during the first 5 s. No significant correlation existed between MPF for the four muscles and the torque. A gradual decrease in MPF was generally found from the 6th s. It is concluded that this decrease in power spectral density function might have contributed to the significantly higher regression coefficient for the RMS torque regression at the high output part of the gradually increasing isometric contraction.     

What does TnCDANZ fluorescence reveal about the thin filament state?

Fluorescence of skinned psoas fibres reconstituted with the troponin C subunit labelled with the fluorescent probe dansylaziridine (TnC_DANZ) increases upon activation with Ca²⁺. This fluorescence enhancement is due to Ca²⁺ binding to the Ca²⁺-specific binding sites of TnC_DANZ and attachment of cross-bridges to the actin filament. We found that approximately 20% of the enhanced fluorescence signal derived from Ca²⁺ binding to TnC_DANZ and 80% from cross-bridge attachment during maximal activation. Furthermore we studied the effects of different cross-bridge states on TnC_DANZ fluorescence. Weakly bound, non-force-generating cross-bridge states (pCa 8, low ionic strength) and rigor cross-bridges revealed similar effects on the TnC_DANZ fluorescence. Strongly attached, force-generating states, however, increased fluorescence to the greatest extent. These results suggests a complex system of reciprocal couplings between TnC and different attached cross-bridge states. Cooling or increase of inorganic phosphate decreased isometric force but hardly decreased fluorescence, suggesting the accumulation of attached cross-bridge states with low tension output.