Premium
Isometric tension from rotary stimulation of fast and slow cat muscles
Author(s) -
Lind Alexander R.,
Scott Petrofsky Jerrold
Publication year - 1978
Publication title -
muscle and nerve
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.025
H-Index - 145
eISSN - 1097-4598
pISSN - 0148-639X
DOI - 10.1002/mus.880010306
Subject(s) - isometric exercise , stimulation , anatomy , tetanic stimulation , tendon , cats , chloralose , motor unit , chemistry , muscle contraction , medicine , inhibitory postsynaptic potential , excitatory postsynaptic potential
In cats anesthetized with α‐chloralose, different populations of motor units in soleus, plantaris, and medial gastrocnemius muscles were stimulated in rotation through surgically divided groups of ventral roots. As a result, smooth muscular contractions were obtained at low frequencies of rotary stimulation, and maximal tetanic tensions were induced at frequencies within the upper range of voluntary contractions. The frequencies necessary to induce maximal tetanic contractions were lower for slow‐twitch muscles than for fast‐twitch muscles. It is speculated that the primary benefit resulting from asynchronous stimulation of the muscles is in the engagement of the tendon, which permits motor units to exert their tension without having to overcome a major portion of the elastic damping.