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Regulation of sarcomere number in skeletal muscle: A comparison of hypotheses
Author(s) -
Herring Susan W.,
Grimm Arthur F.,
Grimm Betsy R.
Publication year - 1984
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.880070213
Subject(s) - sarcomere , anatomy , mastication , biology , medicine , myocyte , orthodontics , endocrinology
Sarcomere lengths from 16 locations in the muscles of mastication were measured from pigs fixed in maximum excursion (wide jaw opening) and in postural position (near occlusion). These data, plus published data on sarcomere lengths in rabbit jaw muscles, were used to evaluate conflicting hypotheses about the factors which regulate serial sarcomere number in striated muscles. According to the most successful hypothesis, sarcomere number is adjusted so as to achieve an optimum sarcomere length when the muscle is experiencing a high level of tension. Most often, this occurs at jaw positions where the muscle is electrically active.