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J D Altringham

Publications and source records attributed to J D Altringham.

30 records · Page 2Linked to original sources
PubMed1991

Power output and the frequency of oscillatory work in mammalian diaphragm muscle: the effects of animal size.

Bundles of muscle fibres were isolated from the diaphragm of mouse, rat and rabbit. Mean oscillatory power output was determined during phasic stimulation and imposed sinusoidal length changes. Maximum power output was measured over a range of cycle frequencies. The cycle frequency for maximum power output (fopt) decreased with increasing body mass and was described by the equation, fopt = 4.42M-0.16, where M is body mass. A very similar relationship has been reported between body mass and the frequency of the trot-gallop transition in terrestrial, quadrupedal mammals [Heglund et al. (1974), Science 186, 1112-1113), and the significance of this similarity is discussed.

Animals↗
PubMed1991

Energetics and power output of isolated fish fast muscle fibres performing oscillatory work.

Fast myotomal muscle fibres were isolated from the cod (Gadus morhua L.) and the energy cost of contraction was measured under conditions simulating swimming. Fibre bundles were subjected to sinusoidal cycles of shortening and lengthening about their in situ fibre length, and stimulated at selected phases in each cycle. The preparations were poisoned with iodoacetic acid and bubbled with nitrogen to block the synthesis of ATP. After an initial rapid decline over the first 10 cycles, force and net work remained steady in some cases for up to 64 oscillatory length cycles, but more commonly declined slowly after about 30 cycles. The total mechanical work performed increased largely in proportion to the number of work cycles. At the end of each experiment fibres were frozen in isopentane cooled in liquid nitrogen and metabolite concentrations determined by high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) and enzymatic analysis. Concentrations of adenylates did not differ significantly from control values, although a significant increase in IMP concentrations at 64 cycles accounted for the maintenance of relatively high energy charge values. Creatine (C) concentrations increased and creatine phosphate (CP) concentrations decreased, implying a tight coupling of the ATP/ADP reaction to the CP/C reaction. Muscle economy was calculated as the positive work performed during a work cycle divided by the total chemical energy expended. These values (approx. 7 mJ mumol-1) were found to be independent of the number of work cycles performed, although a trend to increase was observed. Muscle efficiency values, calculated assuming a Gibb's force free energy change for CP splitting in vivo of 55 kJ mol-1, were in the range 12-23%.

Adenylate Kinase↗
PubMed1988

The mechanical properties of polyneuronally innervated, myotomal muscle fibres isolated from a teleost fish (Myoxocephalus scorpius).

Single or small bundles of fibres were isolated from the abdominal myotomes of the sculpin Myoxocephalus scorpius, a teleost with a polyneuronal pattern of fast muscle innervation. Fibres responded to a supra-threshold stimulus with an all-or-none twitch. Tetanic fusion frequency at 3 degrees C was 40-60 Hz, and the twitch tetanus ratio 0.70. Maximum isometric tension was 281 kN m-2. Similar isometric contractile properties were obtained from the focally innervated fast muscle fibres of another teleost, the eel, Anguilla anguilla. The response of sculpin fibres to stretch during tetanus was similar to that reported for frog twitch fibres. A 5% stretch of 25-50 ms duration increased force to 1.4 Po which decayed to a steady level 5-10% above that of a control tetanus. The force-velocity relationship was also studied. Maximum contraction velocity was 4.75 Ls-1. Force-velocity data were not adequately described by a simple hyperbola. Alternative methods of curve fitting have been explored and discussed.

Anguilla↗
PubMed1985

Evolutionary adaptation of muscle power output to environmental temperature: force-velocity characteristics of skinned fibres isolated from antarctic, temperate and tropical marine fish.

Single fast fibres were isolated from the myotomal muscles of icefish (Chaenocephalus aceratus Lönnberg, Antarctica), North Sea Cod (Gadus morhua L.) and Pacific Blue Marlin (Makaira nigricans Wakiya, Hawaii). Fibres were chemically skinned with the non-ionic detergent Brij-58. Maximum tensions (Po, kN m-2) developed at the characteristic body temperature of each species are 231 for icefish (-1 degree C), 187 for cod (8 degrees C) and 156 for marlin (20 degrees C). At 0 degree C Po is 7 times higher for fibres from the icefish than from the marlin. Fibres from icefish and cod failed to relax completely following activations at temperatures above approximately 12 degrees C. The resultant post-contraction force is associated with a proportional increase in stiffness, suggesting the formation of a population of Ca-insensitive cross bridges. At 10 degrees C there is little interspecific variation in unloaded contraction velocity (Vmax) among the three species. Vmax (muscle lengths s-1) at normal body temperatures are 0.9 for icefish (-1 degree C), 1.0 for cod (8 degrees C) and 3.4 for marlin (20 degrees C). The force-velocity (P-V) relationship becomes progressively more curved with increasing temperature for all three species. Maximum power output for the fast muscle fibres from the Antarctic species at -1 degree C is around 60% of that of the tropical fish at 20 degrees C. Evolutionary temperature compensation of muscle power output appears largely to involve differences in the ability of cross bridges to generate force.

Adaptation, Biological↗
PubMed1985

Changes in tension generation and ATPase activity in skinned muscle fibres of the carp following temperature acclimation.

Common carp (Cyprinus carpio L.) were acclimated to either 7 degrees C or 23 degrees C for 1-2 months. Skinned fibre preparations were isolated from the white myotomal muscle, and ATPase activity measured during maximal isometric contractions. At 7 degrees C, fibres from the cold acclimated fish were found to generate more force than those from warm acclimated fish (123.1 and 97.2kN m-2 respectively), and more "work" (force X time integral) was obtained for each ATP hydrolysed. ATP turnover per myosin head in fibres from cold-acclimated fish was lower than in fibres from warn-acclimated fish (1.85 and 2.84 ATP S1(-1) s-1).

Acclimatization↗
PubMed1985

The descending limb of the sarcomere length-force relation in single muscle fibres of the frog.

Single muscle fibres, isolated from the tibialis anterior muscle of the frog, were used to study intersarcomere dynamics during muscle-isometric (fixed-end) tetani at long sarcomere lengths. Sarcomere length was measured by an online laser diffraction technique. On the descending limb of the length-force relation, the slow rise of force (creep) was always associated with changes in sarcomere length. Sarcomeres at the ends of the fibres shortened, while those of the central 90% of the fibre length were stretched. Fibres were found to have a range of passive length-force curves, those with high resting forces developed little creep force, while low resting force fibres developed substantial creep, resulting in a fixed-end sarcomere length-force relation which deviated greatly from that expected from crossbridge theory. These differences in creep force can be qualitatively accounted for by differences in sarcomere dynamics. The simultaneous measurement of force and sarcomere length during force development allows the construction of a 'sarcomere-isometric' length-force curve from minima in the sarcomere length record. Force declined linearly from a plateau at 2.2 microns to zero at a sarcomere length close to 3.65 microns. The online, diffraction-derived sarcomere length was used in a feedback loop to clamp sarcomere length in short (100-200 microns) segments of fibres. A length-force curve constructed from sarcomere length-clamped tetani shows a linear decline in force from a plateau at 2.2 microns to zero at a sarcomere length of 3.65 microns.

Animals↗
PubMed1985

Effects of phosphate on the contractile properties of fast and slow muscle fibres from an Antarctic fish.

Single fast myotomal fibres and small bundles of slow fibres (from the adductor pectoralis profundus muscle) were isolated from the Antarctic teleost Notothenia neglecta. Fibres were skinned by a brief detergent treatment. The effects of phosphate on the mechanical properties and ATPase activity of fast and slow fibres were studied. 20 mM-phosphate inhibited maximum isometric tension in slow fibres by 34%, but by only 11% in fast fibres. A half-maximal response was obtained at approximately 5 mM-phosphate. These concentrations are within the range measured in muscle, and the effect is probably of physiological significance. This species is of particular interest, since there is evidence that the energy supply to the fast muscle is largely based on phosphocreatine breakdown, which would result in large changes in intracellular phosphate concentration during exercise. The maximum contraction velocity of both fast and slow fibres was not affected by 10 mM-phosphate, nor was the ATPase activity of the slow fibres during isometric contraction. The phosphate-induced depression in tension in slow fibres was associated with a proportional decrease in stiffness. The rate of force recovery after rapid, small amplitude stretches and releases was increased by phosphate, as was the rate of rise of force during stretch activation. The results are discussed with reference to the different patterns of energy supply for contraction in muscle, and an attempt is made at explaining the data in terms of changes in cross-bridge kinetics.

Adenosine Triphosphatases↗
PubMed1984

Sarcomere length changes in single frog muscle fibres during tetani at long sarcomere lengths.

Laser diffraction and photomicrography have been used to monitor sarcomere length changes in single muscle fibres of the frog, at long sarcomere lengths, during fixed end tetani. In the central 90% of all fibres, changes in sarcomere length were consistently less than 0.25 micron. Sarcomere length showed an initial rapid change, followed by a progressively slower increase, which persisted throughout a 4s tetanus. Sarcomere length in the terminal 200-400 microns segment at each end of a fibre decreased rapidly by up to 1 micron in the first second of a tetanus. This shortening was accompanied by a marked increase in disorder of the striation pattern. Maximum isometric tensions in fixed end tetani were much greater than those predicted by crossbridge theory over the entire range of sarcomere lengths studied. An analysis of the intersarcomere dynamics suggests that this extra tension may be explained by known phenomena on the basis of a progressive increase in sarcomere length dispersion along the fibre.

Animals↗
PubMed1982

The pCa-tension and force-velocity characteristics of skinned fibres isolated from fish fast and slow muscles.

1. Single fast fibres and small bundles of two to six slow fibres were dissected from the myotomal muscles of the cod, Gadus morhua, and the dogfish, Scyliorhinus canicula. Fibres were chemically skinned with the non-ionic detergent Brij 58.2. The isometric tension properties were investigated. Maximal isometric tensions (mean +/- S.E. of mean) were 18.65+/-1.18 (n = 11) and 8.34+/-0.98 (n = 13) N cm(-2) for cod fast and slow fibres, and 18.34+/-0.88 (n = 28) and 8.24+/-0.39 (n = 12) N cm(-2) for dogfish fast and slow fibres respectively. The values are comparable to those observed in mammalian and amphibian skinned fibres. The lower tensions generated by the slow fibres cannot be fully explained on the basis of their lower myofibrillar fractional volume.3. In common with previous studies, a steep sigmoid relationship between pCa and tension was observed. The threshold for tension generation was around pCa 7.2. Half-maximal pCas were 6.08 and 6.42 for cod fast and slow muscle, and 6.41 and 6.50 for dogfish fast and slow fibres respectively. Cod fibres were maximally activated at around pCa 5.18, and dogfish fibres at pCa 5.62.4. Contraction-induced residual tensions were observed in cod fast fibres after return to relaxing solution. This phenomenon is a feature common to many skinned fibre studies, but the mechanism behind it has yet to be resolved.5. The force-velocity characteristics of fast and slow fibres have been investigated (at 8 degrees C).6. Points below 0.6 P(0) on the P-V curves could be fitted to a linear form of the Hill equation. Extrapolated V(max)s were calculated as follows: cod fast fibre V(max) = 1.01 muscle length sec(-1) (Lsec(-1)) (a = 0.21 P(0); b = 0.21 Lsec(-1)). Slow fibre = 0.53 Lsec(-1) (a = 0.28P(0); b = 0.21 Lsec(-1)). Dogfish fast fibre V(max) = 2.34 Lsec(-1) (a = 0.06 P(0); b = 0.14 Lsec(-1)). Slow fibre = 0.67 Lsec(-1) (a = 0.19 P(0); b = 0.13 Lsec(-1)).7. Contraction velocity in cod slow fibres decreased continuously to produce markedly non-linear velocity transients, similar to those reported for amphibian slow fibres.8. The effect of altering Ca(2+) concentration on the shape of the isotonic velocity curve (at low loads) was studied in dogfish fast fibres (0.5-1 degrees C). Contraction velocity decreased continuously during shortening, at both maximal and half-maximal Ca(2+) concentration. The rate of decay of velocity with shortening was greater at low Ca(2+) concentration.

Action Potentials↗
PubMed1980

Limitations in the use of actomyosin threads as model contractile systems.

Recent studies have suggested that actomyosin threads may provide a useful model for studying the properties of contractile systems. The development of highly sensitive positional feedback transducers has enabled the properties of these threads to be measured reproducibly. Potential applications include such systems as ventricle, smooth muscle and non-muscle preparations, from which it is difficult to obtain suitable fibres for mechanical studies. In addition, studies with chemically modified myosins may provide new insights into the relationships between the biochemical and mechanical events in the cross-bridge cycle. However, there are indications that the mechanical properties of actomyosin threads differ from those of intact fibres in several important respects. For example, contraction velocity is proportional to isometric tension in threads, but is independent of filament density in intact fibres. We have now determined the force-velocity characteristics of actomyosin threads prepared from muscles with known differences in their physiological contraction velocities. No direct relationships could be found between the velocity characteristics of the threads and those of intact muscle. We conclude that the measured velocities of threads reflect properties of the actomyosins other than cross-bridge cycling times, thus severely limiting the usefulness of this technique for comparative purposes.

Actomyosin↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Is stepwise sarcomere shortening an artefact?

A report in 1977 raised the intriguing possibility that sarcomere shortening in muscle may occur in a stepwise fashion, in which episodes of shortening are interrupted by periods of little or no movement. This was taken by its authors to imply the synchronous activity of cross-bridges over a large volume of tissue-behaviour which cannot easily be reconciled with commonly accepted views of muscle contraction. Stepwise shortening has also been reported recently in relaxed muscle fibres on which length changes were externally imposed, and that system has allowed us to define more rigorously the circumstances in which stepwise shortening is observed. Here we report a high correlation between the frequency of 'steps' or 'pauses' and the translation velocity of the fibre past the measuring system, suggesting that stepwise shortening is not a physiological property of muscle but an instrumentation artefact.

Animals↗