Influence of stretch-shortening cycle on mechanical behaviour of triceps surae during hopping

Belli , A. & Bosco, A. 1992. Influence of stretch-shortening cycle on mechanical behaviour of triceps surae during hopping. Acta Physiol Scand 144 , 401408. Received 20 March 1 991 , accepted 3 December 1991. ISSN 0001–6772. Laboratories of Physiology, Universities of St Etienne and Lyon, France and Departments of Biology and Physical Activity, University of Jyväskylä, Finland. Six subjects performed a first series of vertical plantar flexions and a second series of vertical rebounds, both involving muscle triceps surae exclusively. Vertical displacements, vertical forces and ankle angles were recorded during the entire work period of 60 seconds per series. In addition, expired gases were collected during the test and recovery for determination of the energy expenditure. Triceps surae was mechanically modelled with a contractile component and with an elastic component. Mechanical behaviour and work of the different muscle components were determined in both series. The net muscular efficiency calculated from the work performed by the centre of gravity was 17.5±3.0% (mean ± SD) in plantar flexions and 29.9 ± 4.8% in vertical rebounds. The net muscle efficiency calculated from the work performed by the contractile component was 17.4 %% 2.9% in plantar flexions and 16.1 ± 1.47; in vertical rebounds. These results suggest that the muscular efficiency differences do not reflect muscle contractile component efficiency but essentially the storage and recoil of elastic energy. This is supported by the relationship (P < 0.01) found in vertical rebounds between the extra work and the elastic component work. A detailed observation of the mechanical behaviour of muscle mechanical components showed that the strategy to maximize the elastic work depends also on the force-velocity characteristics of the movement and that the eccentric-concentric work of the contractile component does not always correspond respectively to the ankle extension-flexion.     

培养大鼠星形胶质细胞牵张损伤后超微结构的变化

目的研究体外培养星形细胞牵张损伤后超微结构的变化。方法取新生1~2 d大鼠的皮层细胞原代培养,经纯化后传代培养于乳胶膜培养皿中。采用计算机控制的牵张损伤装置,分别以50、150、250 kPa压力牵张损伤培养于乳胶膜上的大鼠皮层星形胶质细胞。用3%戊二醛固定后,行扫描电镜和透射电镜观察。结果当用50 kPa驱动压力进行牵张损伤时,细胞结构即有明显破坏,表现为细胞间隙增宽,部分胞体和突起被撕裂;以50 kPa牵张损伤后1 h,透射电镜下可见线粒体肿胀、嵴减少;损伤后6 h可见线粒体致密、细胞器减少等。当牵张应力增大,星形细胞损伤程度加重,细胞器明显减少,线粒体空泡化,微丝、微管明显减少,直至水样胞质或致密胞体。结论较小的应力即可致星形细胞紧密连接的破坏和超微结构的改变,可能与脑外伤后产生广泛的脑水肿有关。     

No correlation between number of MRI-evident lesions in cerebrum and the soleus stretch reflex in multiple sclerosis patients

The aim of the study was to investigate if the stretch reflex of the soleus muscle was useful in quantifying upper motor neuron lesions. The soleus stretch reflex was recorded in 10 healthy subjects and 20 patients with active relapsing-remitting multiple sclerosis and correlated to the number of MRI lesions in cerebrum and clinical scores (expanded disability status scale and regional functional scoring system). The short latency stretch reflex was elicited by rotating the left ankle joint 4 degrees with a rise time in the interval of 40-640 ms. The amplitude of the stretch was larger in multiple sclerosis patients being 88.5 microV in patients and 12.8 microV in controls, P = 0.007. The sensitivity of the stretch reflex expressed as the slope of the best linear fit was increased in MS patients to 2.6 microVs/degree compared with 0.6 microVs/degree (0.1-2.2) in controls, P = 0.009. There was no correlation between amplitude of the stretch reflex and number of MRI lesions (r = -0.03). In conclusion, the soleus stretch reflex might be useful to quantify spasticity but is not useful in detecting dysfunction of upper motor neurons in MS.     

Blockade of pulmonary stretch receptors reinforces diaphragmatic activity during high-frequency oscillatory ventilation

During apneic periods elicited by high-frequency oscillatory ventilation (HFOV) a tonic diaphragmatic activity was observed, contrasting with the absence of diaphragmatic activity during apnea induced by lung inflation. To clarify the mechanism underlying the persistence of the diaphragmatic activity during HFOV-induced arrest of breathing the reflex responses to short periods of HFOV, and to periods of lung inflation with airway pressure (P _aw) equal to the meanP _aw and/or to maximalP _aw during HFOV were examined both before and after the blockade of slowly adapting stretch receptors (SR) by inhalation of sulphur dioxide (SO₂) in anaesthetized rabbits. In animals with intact SR, the HFOV-induced reflex apnea lasted longer than that induced by lung inflation, the associated diaphragmatic activity being in the most cases higher than the diaphragmatic activity during quiet expiration; inflation, however, completely inhibited diaphragmatic activity. After blockade of SR, spontaneous breathing continued during periods of lung inflation, i.e., the Hering-Breuer inflation reflex was abolished, whereas HFOV still led to a cessation of spontaneous breathing, the associated diaphragmatic activity even exceeding the level observed during quiet inspiration. From these results we conclude that only one part of the reflex response to HFOV is due to SR-stimulation and that in addition other vagal pulmonary receptors (irritant-and/or C-fibre-receptors) are involved. The stimulation of the latter counterbalances the concomitant stimulation of SR, giving rise to the tonic activity of the diaphragm.     

Impulse patterns of Ia afferents and Ia-activated DSCT neurons during sinusoidal muscle stretch in cats

Summary The cat gastrocnemius muscles of one hind leg were stretched sinusoidally with amplitudes between 10 m and 2.5 mm and frequencies between 1 and 30 Hz. The stretch response of deefferented muscle spindle afferents and of Ia-activated cells within Clarke's column were investigated by means of extra-cellular recordings of action potentials. The responses to 20–50 cycles were displayed in impulse patterns (raster diagrams) of the responding action potentials. The impulse patterns of Ia afferents exhibited a high degree of phase-locking (regularity) on the stretch cycle of amplitudes of about 50 m at 3 Hz and all higher amplitudes or frequencies. At comparable stretch parameters the regularity in Ia afferents was 4–6 times larger than in Ia-activated DSCT neurons. The regularity in the DSCT patterns increased with an increase in stretch frequency. The impulse patterns of DSCT cells exhibited a high negative correlation between successive interspike intervals (–0.4 to –0.6) at low stretch frequencies (<3 Hz), which decreased with an increase in stretch frequency.     

Presynaptic depolarization in myelinated vagal afferent fibres terminating in the nucleus of the tractus solitarius in the cat

The presynaptic influences that act on terminals of slowly adapting lung stretch receptor afferents and aortic baroreceptor afferents within the nucleus of the solitary tract were assessed using intracellular recording and antidromic stimulation techniques.Central respiratory influences on the axcitability of lung stretch receptor terminals were observed in 29% (4 of 14) of measurements. These were confirmed in intracellular recordings where membrane depolarizations in synchrony with phrenic nerve discharge were seen in 17% (4 of 24) of fibres. In three cases membrane depolarization also occurred synchronously with artificial lung inflation.Neither tests of excitability nor intracellular recording revealed any evidence for equivalent presynaptic influences on 16 myelinated aortic baroreceptor terminals.Stimulation of the superior laryngeal nerve evoked depolarizations in 50% (7 of 14) of lung stretch receptor terminals. These took the form of complex waves of depolarization with both short (3–8 ms) and long latency (27–35 ms) components. The amplitude of the long latency response increased during the period of phrenic nerve discharge, i.e. during central inspiration.These effects are discussed in relation to the central respiratory influences on both respiratory and cardiovascular reflexes.     

A Strain Device Imposing Dynamic and Uniform Equi-Biaxial Strain to Cultured Cells

The objective of this study is to design a new apparatus to allow the control of the magnitude and frequency of dynamic stretch applied uniformly to cells cultured on a silicon elastic membrane. The apparatus is designed to produce equi-biaxial dynamic stretches with area changes ranging from 0% to 55% and frequencies ranging from 0 to 2 Hz. Homogeneous finite strain analysis using triangles of markers was performed to compute the symmetric two-dimensional Lagrangian strain tensor on the membrane. Measurements of strain in both static and dynamic conditions showed that the shear component of the strain tensor (E_rc) was near zero, and that there was no significant difference between radial (E_rr) and circumferential (E_cc) components, indicating the attainment of equi-biaxial strain. Bovine aortic endothelial cells were transiently transfected with a chimeric construct in which the luciferase reporter is driven by TPA-responsive elements (TRE). The transfected cells cultured on the membrane were stretched. The luciferase activity increased significantly only when the cells were stretched by 15% or more in area. Cells in different locations of the membrane showed similar induction of luciferase activities, confirming that strain is uniform and equi-biaxial across the membrane. © 1998 Biomedical Engineering Society. PAC98: 8780+s, 8745-k, 8722-q     

Role of actin microfilament in osmotic stretch-induced increase of voltage-operated calcium channel current in guinea-pig gastric myocytes

 Using the whole-cell patch clamp technique, the role of actin microfilament in hyposmotic increase of voltage-operated calcium channel current (I _Ba) was studied in guinea-pig gastric myocytes. Hyposmotic superfusate (212 mOsm) increased peak I _Ba amplitude by 32.7 ± 6.5%; when cytochalasin-D (Cyt-D, 20 μM), an actin cytoskeleton disruptor, was used, an increase of only 9.7 ± 3.1% was seen. I _Baresponse to osmotic stress was potentiated (45.1 ± 4.1% increase) by 20 μM phalloidin, an actin microfilament stabilizer. However, colchicine (100 μM), an microtubule cytoskeleton disruptor, had no effect on either I _Ba or its response to hyposmotic solution. Phalloidin also induced a rightward shift of the I/V relationship of I _Ba, while Cyt-D itself had no effect. These results suggest that actin cytoskeleton may mediate hyposmotic stretch-induced I _Ba increase in gastric smooth muscle. Received: 26 March 1997 / Received after revision: 28 May 1997 / Accepted: 3 June 1997     

Normal and homogeneous red blood cell populations over a wide range of hyper-iso-hypotonic media

The volumes of human erythrocytes after rapid and gradual swelling in hypotonic NaCl media were measured using a Coulter Counter Z_B at temperatures of +4°C and +20°C together with potassium leakage, the degree of hemolysis and the ‘returning volume’, i. e., the volume in an isotonic solution to which the cells will return from that in a hypotonic solution. The methodological and systematic errors in the volume measurements were corrected by taking into account the shape dependence of the Coulter Counter and the change in cell population during hemolysis, whereafter the measured cell volume values and the comparison between them become more reliable. The curves for cell volume as an inverse function of osmotic pressure appeared to be non-linear. The slopes were small at first but shoed a rapid increase as the cells approached their maximal volume. The critical hemolytic volume was approx.8% higher at +20°C after both rapid and gradual swelling than at +4°C and approx.4% higher after a gradual swelling as compared with a rapid swelling both at +4°C and +20°C.A decrease in temperature resulted in an increase in the critical osmotic pressure both in rapid and gradual hemolysis, but did not greatly affect the amount of prelytic K⁺ leakage. The critical osmotic pressure was smaller in gradual hemolysis than in rapid hemolysis and the prelytic K⁺ leakage was doubled at both +4°C and +20°C.The shifts in osmotic fragility as a function of temperature may be due to differences in the visco-elastic properties of the cell membrane, but the shifts in osmotic fragility as a function of swelling rate may be connected with differences in potassium leakage and membrane stretch.