ATPase activity and force production in myofibrils and twitch characteristics in intact muscle from neonatal, adult, and senescent rat myocardium

To determine whether age-associated alterations in the cardiac muscle twitch could be related to altered myofibrillar ATPase activity or to an altered force-pCa relationship, these variables were measured in rat cardiac preparations across a broad age range. Between 2 and 6 months, maximum ATPase activity in detergent treated myofibrils decreased approximately two fold (0.166 +/- 0.01 v. 0.078 +/- 0.02 microM Pi/min X mg protein, P less than 0.001), but did not change with further aging (12 or 24 months). The Ca2+-dependent force in thin 'Triton skinned' papillary muscles was not age-related. ATPase activity and force exhibited identical Ca2+ sensitivity from the submicromolar to micromolar range: for ATPase activity pCa for 50% activity averaged 6.1 and Hill coefficients averaged 4.5; pCa for 50% force development was 6.1 and Hill coefficients of the force-pCa relation averaged 4.5; no age differences in these parameters were observed. In the intact muscles prior to skinning, neither twitch force nor the maximum rate of force production were age-related; however, indices of the time course of contraction, time to peak force, half relaxation time, and their sum, increased progressively, changing by approximately 30% from 2 to 24 months (P less than 0.001). Since the decline in ATPase activity occurred over the maturational period only, and did not change with further ageing, while the twitch duration changed progressively with age, it is concluded that the twitch prolongation of the senescent myocardium cannot be directly related to the age-related decline in myofibrillar ATPase activity.     

Perforin plays an unexpected role in regulating T-cell contraction during prolonged Listeria monocytogenes infection

After infection or vaccination, antigen-specific T cells proliferate then contract in numbers to a memory set point. T-cell contraction is observed after both acute and prolonged infections although it is unknown if contraction is regulated similarly in both scenarios. Here, we show that contraction of antigen-specific CD8(+) and CD4(+) T cells is markedly reduced in TNF/perforin-double deficient (DKO) mice responding to attenuated Listeria monocytogenes infection. Reduced contraction in DKO mice was associated with delayed clearance of infection and sustained T-cell proliferation during the normal contraction interval. Mechanistically, sustained T-cell proliferation mapped to prolonged infection in the absence of TNF; however, reduced contraction required the additional absence of perforin since T cells in mice lacking either TNF or perforin (singly deficient) underwent normal contraction. Thus, while T-cell contraction after acute infection is independent of peforin, a perforin-dependent pathway plays a previously unappreciated role to mediate contraction of antigen-specific CD8(+) and CD4(+) T cells during prolonged L. monocytogenes infection.     

Expression of cTnI-R145G affects shortening properties of adult rat cardiomyocytes

The R145G amino acid exchange in the inhibitory subunit (cTnI) of cardiac troponin, which regulates muscle contraction, is related to familial hypertrophic cardiomyopathy. Information on its impact on contractility of adult cardiomyocytes is scarce. We studied shortening of adult rat cardiomyocytes before and during ss-adrenergic stimulation using adenovirus-driven expression of human cTnI-wild type (wt) and cTnI-R145G. Baseline sarcomere shortening was significantly decreased by cTnI-R145G expression. Upon ss-adrenergic stimulation using isoproterenol (ISO), nearly identical amplitudes of shortening were obtained with cells expressing cTnI-R145G and control cardiomyocytes (native and cTnI-wt). However, rates of shortening and relengthening were depressed in cTnI-R145G-expressing cells but were comparable to those of control cells upon addition of forskolin or ISO and ICI118,551. This indicates that cTnI-R145G expression influences the response to ss-adrenergic stimulation dependent on the receptor subtype.     

Effects of Ethanol on the Contractile Function of the Heart: A Review

Chronic ethanol consumption leads to a number of alterations in the contractile function of the heart and is a leading cause of cardiomyopathy. Ethanol also has an acute negative inotropic effect mediated by direct interaction with cardiac muscle cells, although this action is often masked by indirect actions resulting from enhanced release of catecholamines in vivo. This article reviews the effects of ethanol on the contractile function of the heart. The specific targets affected by ethanol in cardiac muscle cells are discussed in terms of potential mechanisms underlying the depressions of contractility resulting from both acute and chronic actions of ethanol.     

Ionic mechanism of inotropic effect of prostaglandin E1 on frog atrial muscle

Summary Prostaglandin E₁ increases the amplitude and duration of cardiac action potential and exerts a positive inotropic effect on the frog heart. In voltage-clamp experiments, prostaglandin E₁ increases both, the slow inward current and the delayed outward as well as the two components of the heart contraction. These results imply that calcium influx and the release of intracellular calcium are involved in the inotropic action of prostaglandin E₁.     

Temperature dependence of electro-mechanical coupling in crayfish muscle fibers

Summary In single fibers of crayfish muscle the membrane was clamped to definite potentials for periods of 10 ms to 10 s. Contraction of the fiber was measured isometrically. The influence of temperature on the relations between contraction and amplitude as well as duration of depolarization was determined.Upon cooling the preparation from 20 to 10°C maximum force of contraction decreased with a Q ₁₀ of 3, while the rate of rise of contraction was reduced even more. Relaxation was more slowed by cooling than contraction. The Q ₁₀ of the delay of relaxation relative to repolarization and of the rate of relaxation were in the range of 3–10. The results suggest that cooling decreases the amplitude of the active state and slows its rise and decay. Only one of the measured parameters had a low Q ₁₀ of 1.2, namely the period of continued increase of rate of rise of contraction after repolarization. A state of excitation of an internal membrane system continued after repolarization of the surface membrane could explain this finding.This work was supported by the Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft.     

Influence of osmotic compression on calcium activation and tension in skinned muscle fibers of the rabbit

Single skinned muscle fibers were osmotically compressed back to and below their in situ size by addition of a large, random-coil polymer (Deytran T500; = 180,000; = 461,000) to the bathing medium. Maximal Ca²⁺-activated tension in fibers swollen (zero Dextran, fiber width 21% above in situ) or near in situ size (5% Dextran, in g/100 ml final solution) was similar, but compression to 86% of in situ width with 10% Dextran decreased maximal force by 15% relative to polymer-free control. While the relative tension-pCa relation in 0 and 10% Dextran was similar, with a pCa of 6.37 required for 50% activation, that in 5% Dextran was more sensitive to Ca²⁺, with a pCa₅₀ of 6.66. We feel these effects are most likely due to changes in interfilament spacing with compression and that alterations in Ca²⁺-sensitivity might be explained by changes in cross-bridge angle or in the concomitant attachment-detachment rate constants which would be expected to influence the troponin-Ca²⁺ binding equilibrium, as has been proposed by others.     

Different changes in contractile and histochemical properties of reinnervated and regenerated slow soleus muscles of the guinea-pig

Summary The changes in contraction time (CT) and histochemical muscle fibre pattern are compared with respect to ATPase activity of the slow soleus muscle of the guinea-pig during regeneration in free grafts and reinnervation after nerve interruption. Interruption of the nerve by crushing at birth results first in prolongation of CT which later returns to normal (control) values. A homogeneous fibre pattern is established related to the homogeneity of the motor units constituting the muscle. In the regenerating muscle CT and muscle fibre pattern of the graft repeat the changes during postnatal development, i.e. CT shows progressive prolongation accompanied by transformation of a heterogeneous (fibres of high and low ATPase activity) to a homogeneous (fibres of low activity only) fibre pattern. However, the regenerating muscle also shows an initial phase with slow CT. Thus the changes in reinnervation and regeneration of the muscle after birth differ, the reinnervated muscle revealing only prolongation, the regenerated muscle a temporary shortening followed by prolongation, i.e. a biphasic development of CT.     

Molecular mechanisms underlying airway smooth muscle contraction and proliferation: implications for asthma

Airway smooth muscle (ASM) plays a key role in bronchomotor tone, as well as in structural remodeling of the bronchial wall. Therefore, ASM contraction and proliferation significantly participate in the development and progression of asthma. Many contractile agonists also behave as mitogenic stimuli, thus contributing to frame a hyperresponsive and hyperplastic ASM phenotype. In this review, the molecular mechanisms and signaling pathways involved in excitation-contraction coupling and ASM cell growth will be outlined. Indeed, the recent advances in understanding the basic aspects of ASM biology are disclosing important cellular targets, currently explored for the implementation of new, more effective anti-asthma therapies.     

Beetroot juice supplementation increases concentric and eccentric muscle power output. Original investigation

ObjectivesBeetroot juice (BJ) supplementation has been reported to enhance skeletal muscle contractile function; however, it is currently unclear whether BJ supplementation elicits comparable improvements in power output during different types of skeletal muscle contractions. The purpose of the current study was to assess the effect of BJ supplementation on power output during concentric (CON) and eccentric (ECC) muscle contractions during a half-squat.DesignIn a randomized, double-blind placebo-controlled crossover design, eighteen adult males (age: 22.8 ± 4.9 y) completed two experimental testing sessions 2.5 h following the acute ingestion of 140 mL nitrate-rich BJ concentrate or a placebo.MethodsEach experimental session comprised four sets of eight all-out half-squat repetitions with each set completed with a different moment intertia (0.025, 0.050, 0.075 and 0.100 kg·m^?2).ResultsCompared to placebo, BJ supplementation increased mean power output (MP) during the CON (ES: 0.61–1.01) and ECC (ES: 0.54–0.89; all p < 0.05) movement phases to a similar extent. Moreover, comparable increases in peak power output (PP) during the CON (ES: 0.86–1.24) and ECC (ES: 0.6–1.08; all p < 0.05) movement phases were observed following BJ supplementation.ConclusionAcute BJ supplementation increased mean and peak lower limb power output in the concentric and eccentric movement phases of a half-squat. These findings improve understanding of the effects of BJ supplementation on skeletal muscle contractile function and might have implications for enhancing sports performance in events where muscle power output is a key performance determinant.