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Muscular reflex and baroreflex influences on heart rate during isometric contractions.

Isometric hindlimb contractions were induced in anaesthetised dogs by stimulation of appropriate spinal ventral roots. During such contractions there were appreciable reflex systemic pressor responses accompanied by small increases in heart rate. The heart rate responses during contractions were small because the primary cardioacceleratory reflexes from muscle were partly masked during contractions by opposing baroreceptor-cardiodepressor reflexes.

Animals

[Assessment of the coronary circulation regulation by means of the so-called isometric contraction index].

The index of isometric contraction formed from the quotient period of isometric contraction in the erect position by period of isometric contraction in lying position gives the possibility to separate between cardially sufficient and cardially insufficient patients with adequately disturbed regulation of the cardiac circulation. The recognition of early stages of the disturbed left-ventricular function is possible. The use of an adequate exact technique in gaining the primary data is to be presumed. Corrections of the frequency of the index of isometric contraction do not improve the evidence. In the borderline region of the index of isometric contraction with values between 1.03 and 1.1 in questionable cases a further differentiation into still normal or already latent insufficient will do by the analysis of the trend of the index of isometric contraction after the application of medicaments. The determination of the change of the direction of the index of isometric contraction after peroral application of nitroglycerin would be justifiable in routine work after the recognition of the initiaction increases in patients with latent heart insufficiency, in patients with a healthy heart it decreases. The clinical value of the index of isometric contraction as a simple test of the circulatory function is highly to be estimated.

Coronary Circulation

The use of echocardiography to measure isometric contraction time.

The current methods for estimating isometric contraction time were discussed. Ultrasonically derived isometric contraction time, using external carotid pulse tracing, phonocardiogram, and the B-point of the mitral echogram was also measured. Recordings were performed in 10 normal subjects, and 15 patients. Hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (5), congestive cardiomyopathy (6), and ischemic heart disease (4). In 11 patients, the results were correlated with the internal isometric contraction time. The ultrasound isometric contraction time showed good correlation with the internal isometric contraction time (r equals 0.92, P less than 0.01). The external isometric contraction time showed less correlation with the internal isometric contraction time and was significantly shorter (P less than 0.01). The ultrasound isometric contraction time showed a superior discriminating value to the external isometric contraction time for differentiation the normal subjects from the patients' group.

Adolescent

Muscular reflex stimuli to the cardiovascular system during isometric contractions of muscle groups of different mass.

1. The cardiovascular responses to voluntary isometric contractions performed by human subjects are determined by the proportion of maximal tension achieved by the muscles contracting, and not by the mass of the contracting muscles, nor by the absolute tension achieved (Lind & McNicol, 1967; confirmed here). When two or more muscle groups contract simultaneously at different relative tensions, the increments in heart rate and blood pressure are the same as when the muscle group at the higher relative tension contracts alone at that tension (Lind & McNicol, 1967). It is known that there are both central and reflex stimuli to the cardiovascular system in exercise, and the present study examines whether the muscular reflex stimuli are related to the proportion of maximal tension achieved or to the mass of contracting muscle. 2. Isometric hind-limb contractions were induced in anaesthetized dogs and cats by stimulation of spinal ventral roots. Pressor responses to contraction of both hind limbs were greater than responses to contractions of either hind limb alone. No differences were observed between heart rate responses to single or combined hind-limb contractions. 3. When human subjects perform isometric contractions, a pressor response can be maintained beyond the conclusion of the exercise by occluding muscle blood flow. This response is generally attributed to a reflex set up in the muscle by the action of chemical factors on afferent nerves. When comparable pressor responses were evoked by comparable proportional efforts with either the whole hand or the little finger, it was found here that the pressor responses remaining during the period of post-exercise occlusion were greater when the greater mass of muscle had been exercised. 4. It is concluded that the muscular reflex drive in isometric exercise is related to the bulk of contracting muscle.

Adult

Effect of uranyl ions on isometric contractions in rabbit atria.

The effects of uranyl ions on isometric contractions of atrial strips of rabbit heart were studied. It was observed that uranyl ions, in a concentration of 1.1 X 10(-5) M, do not alter isometric contraction; 2.2 X 10(-5) M concentration produced a small positive inotropic effect that was magnified at a 4.5 X 10(-5) M concentration; concentrations greater than 1.8 X 10(-5) M produced a negative inotropic effect. There is evidence that the positive inotropic effect is mediated by catecholamine release, in a similar manner to the action of uranyl ions on intestinal smooth muscle preparations. This response was blocked by propranolol and also after tyramine treatment of the preparation. The negative inotropic effect seems to be mediated by a blocking effect on calcium entry through the sarcolemma during activation. Indirect evidence supporting this hypothesis was the observation of a decrease of action of uranyl ions in the presence of isoproterenol and of increased extracellular calcium concentration.

Animals

Interaction of halothane and antibiotics on isometric contractions on rat-heart muscle.

Halothane (H), kanamycin (KM), streptomycin (SM), and chloramphenicol (CM) had direct negative inotropic effects on isometric contractions of isolated rat-heart muscles. Potassium penicillin-G did not show any significant changes in isometric contractions. The depression produced by these antibiotics was characterized by an abrupt onset, rapid progression, and rapid complete recovery, which suggests direct physicochemical rather than metabolic effects. On the other hand, the depression produced by H progressed slowly. When KM, SM, or CM were combined with H, there was a greater depression in isometric contractions than seen in the absence of H, suggesting that the innate characteristics of the antibiotics are augmented when any of them is administered together with halothane.

Animals

Energy metabolism in different human skeletal muscles during voluntary isometric contractions.

The energy turnover in contracting skeletal muscle was studied by measuring the rate of temperature rise during voluntary, isometric contractions and circulatory arrest in M. soleus, M. sacrospinalis and M. biceps brachii in 14 males, by thermoelements inserted in the muscles. A linear relationship between rate of temperature rise and force intensity given as per cent of maximal voluntary contraction (MVC) was demonstrated in biceps (r = 0.95), but not so clearly confirmed in soleus (r = 0.73). Muscle biopsies were taken from the same muscles and fibre type distribution was determined histochemically by staining for ATPase. The rate of heat production at MVC showed positive correlation to the percentage of fast twitch (FT) fibres in the muscles (r = 0.90). Linear extrapolation indicates that the maximal energy turnover in human FT fibres is approximately six times that of slow twitch (ST) fibres during voluntary isometric contractions.

Adult

Amplitude of the surface electromyogram during fatiguing isometric contractions.

Five voluntee subjects held isometric handgrip contractions at specific submaximal tensions until the required tension could no longer be maintained. At the start of those contractions, the amplitude of the surface electromyogram (EMG) was linearly related to the tension exerted; the amplitude of the EMG increased linearly throughout these substained contractions by a constant amount--about 30% of the maximum. During sustained contractions, brief, intermittent maximal efforts showed that strength declined linearly at all tensions. At 25% maximal voluntary contraction (MVC), there was a linear fall in the EMG amplitude associated with the brief maximal efforts, but the fall in strength was more rapid than the fall in EMG amplitude. At 70% MVC, there was no fall in the EMG amplitude in response to the brief maximal efforts, while the muscle strength fell linearly.

Adult

Relation between integrated electromyographic activity and biting force during voluntary isometric contraction in human masticatory muscles.

The relation between integrated electromyographic activity and computed biting force during voluntary isometric contraction was evaluated in the masticatory muscles of healthy subjects. The slopes of the curves relating integrated electromyographic activity to computed biting force in masseter muscles were steeper on the non-preferred chewing side than on the preferred chewing side, and they progressively became steeper during the course of continuous isometric contraction of a given biting force.

Action Potentials

Muscular compliance during isometric contraction.

The changes in compliance during the development of maximal isometric contraction were studied at 0 degree C in isolated frog (Rana temporaria) sartorii. Three types of method were compared: controlled release from the plateau of tetanic tension (P0); controlled release at various times during the development of tension; and evaluation of the elastic stretching by means of an additional compliance. The length variations were performed at constant velocity under the control of an electromagnetic ergometer. It was confirmed that muscular compliance decreased with increase in developed tension. Furthermore, for a given value of tension, the compliance determined during the elastic lengthening was found to be significantly higher than the compliance measured during the elastic shortening. It was concluded that the variation in compliance during stretching and releasing seems to be due to a difference in behaviour of the elastic material.

Animals

Myocardial oxygen consumption in isometric contraction of various strengths due to paired stimulation and quick-release.

In all of the experiments described, the oxygen consumption during isometric contraction was dependent solely upon the magnitude of active tension developed, and not on the rate of tension development or on the duration of contraction. There is a constant linear relationship between tension development and oxygen uptake. Any sudden interruption of active tension in the rising phase of the contraction terminates the energy utilization by the contractile system. These findings provide evidence to suggest that in isometric contraction of heart muscle, a rigid and constant coupling exists in the transformation of chemical energy to the mechanical tension.

Animals

Derivation of some parameters of myoelectric signals recorded during sustained constant force isometric contractions.

Mathematical expressions are derived for some parameters of the myoelectric (ME) signal recorded during a constant force isometric contraction. The expressions are developed from a stochastic model for the motor-unit action-potential trains obtained from empirical results. The following parameters: (a) the mean rectified value, (b) the mean integrated rectified value, (c) the root-mean-square value, and (d) the power density spectrum are described as functions of contraction time and constant force of an isometric muscle contraction. The calculated parameters are compared to their corresponding empirically obtained measurements which have been reported in the literature. A discussion on the behavior of the parameters during increasing contraction time is presented. Synchronization of the motor-unit action-potential trains is shown to have a pronounced effect on the parameters of the myoelectric signal. This result should be considered when analyzing long records of myoelectric signals.

Action Potentials

The control of blood flow through human forearm muscles following brief isometric contractions.

1. The blood flow through the forearm was measured 2 sec after single, brief isometric hand-grip contractions. The tension and duration of those contractions varied from 10 to 100% of the maximal voluntary contraction (m.v.c.) and from 2 to 12 sec, respectively. 2. The blood flow increased linearly with tension up to about 60% m.v.c. but further increases in tension, up to 100% m.v.c., did not elicit higher blood flows than were found at 60% m.v.c. The same relationship between tension and the resultant blood flow held for all durations of contractions, from 2 to 12 sec. The blood flow immediately after (2 sec) contractions at a given tension increased linearly with the duration of the contraction, from 2 to 12 sec. Maximal exercise blood flow was approached only in response to the longest contractions (12 sec) at tensions of 60% m.v.c. or higher. 3. Brief alterations (2--5 sec) of transmural pressure across blood vessels did not result in a significant change of blood flow, either in the resting forearm or when the vessels were dilated by brief, isometric contractions. When the tension was applied or released either rapidly or gradually ('ramp' contractions) there was no correlation between the rate of change of stretch on arterial vessels and the resultant blood flow. However, there was a direct relationship between a force--time integral (duration of contraction x peak tension) and blood flow. All these results make it clear that changes in blood flow in the forearm elicited by brief isometric contractions are not the result of a myogenic reflex but are metabolically induced. 4. Successive contractions exerted at 60% m.v.c. for 4 sec induced a blood flow of 21.2 +/- 1.6 ml.min-1.100 ml.-1 when a rest interval of 8 sec was allowed between the contractions. Blood flows remained constant at this submaximal level, even when muscular fatigue was induced, and when there was an accompanying large increase in blood pressure. 5. Isometric muscular activity by the contralateral arm which resulted in fatigue, associated with a large increase in mean blood pressure, did not alter the level of vasodilation that was induced by brief, isometric contractions in the 'test' arm. 6. It is suggested that the vasodilatation in response to intermittent isometric contractions is the result of metabolic vasodilatation of distal segments and continued sympathetic vasoconstriction of the proximal segments of the forearm vascular bed.

Blood Pressure

Role of extracellular calcium in isometric contractions of the SHR aorta. Influence of age and antihypertensive treatment.

Isometric contractions induced by noradrenaline (NA), 1.8 X 10(-5) M or by potassium (K+), 127 mM were studied in paired ring-preparations of the thoracic aortae from spontaneously hypertensive rats (SHR) and age-matched normotensive Kyoto-Wistar rats. In rats aged 8--16 weeks, NA-induced contractions were significantly more dependent on extracellular calcium in preparations from the SHR than from the NWR, whereas K+induced contractions showed no difference. Relaxation studies revealed differences between SHR and NWR also in K+-induced contractions. Comparison of responses in NWRs aged 3--4 months and 10--12 months showed a significant increment in Ca++-dependency with age. This age-related difference was less pronounced in SHRs, but the effect of blockade of Ca++-influx by nifedipine was significantly stronger in the old than in the young SHR-aorta. Treatment with propranolol or hydrochlorothiazide + timolol + minoxidil for 4--5 months caused no significant reduction of blood pressure and no change in Ca++-dependency. In contrast, treatment with verapamil (60 mg/kg/day) for 12 months resulted in a significantly lower blood pressure in the treated SHRs than in their controls. A trend towards "nomrlization" of the Ca++-dependency in verapamil treated rats was also observed. The results suggest that an increased Ca++-dependency in the SHR aortae is present already at the age of 8--16 weeks, but becomes more pronounced with age. As an age-related increment in Ca++-dependency is also found in NWRs, the results suggest that the SHR aortae are "functionally" older than the NWR vessels already in young animals. Calcium antagonists seem to be effective in lowering blood pressure in SHRs and represent a promising approach to the treatment of hypertensive vascular disease.

Aging

Lactate in fast and slow twitch skeletal muscle fibres of man during isometric contraction.

Concentration of lactate in fast and slow twitch fibres, respectively, were determined in m. quadriceps femoris after sustained contractions at 25%, 50%, and 75% of maximal voluntary isometric contraction (MVC) until exhaustion as well as after interrupted exercises at 25% and 50% MVC. Maximal lactate concentrations were only found at 50% of MVC performed to exhaustion. Lactate concentration was higher in slow twitch (ST) fibres at 50% MVC compared to in ST fibres at 25% MVC, and higher in fast twitch (FT) fibres at 50% MVC compared to in FT fibres at 75% MVC. After short time isometric exercise (i.e. 75% to exhaustion and 50% and 25% performed for the same period of time as 75% MVC) lactate concentration, expressed as lactate ratio (lactate concentration in FT fibres/lactate concentration in ST fibres) was found to be positively correlated to percent FT fibres (r=0.89). Lactate ratio ranged 0.5-2.0, i.e. at onset of isometric exercise, lactate concentration increase was faster in ST fibres in the muscle rich in ST fibres and faster in FT fibres when the muscle wasrich in FT fibres.

Age Factors

[Respiration during isometric contraction of the flexor or extensor muscles of the arm in humans].

An increase in the instantaneous pulmonary flow and a decrease in the respiratory frequency has been found in man as a consequence of isometric contraction of either flexor or extensor muscles of the elbow. The delay of 200 to 900msec between the onset of the muscle contraction and the beginning of the flow increment suggests that the respiratory system increases its activity due to the proprioreceptor activation. As there is no significant difference in the results obtained during flexor or extensor contraction, the contribution of the two different receptor groups appears to be the same.

Adult

Myocardial sarcomere dynamics during isometric contraction.

1. Sarcomere lengths were measured during rest and throughout the time course of isometric contractions in thin, isolated rat papillary muscles using light diffraction techniques. 2. Shortening of the sarcomere length occurred upon contraction at all muscle lengths, averaging 7% at optimal length and more at shorter lengths. Relative to the narrow range of sarcomere lengths spanning the length--tension curve, this degree of shortening was considerable. 3. Local changes of sarcomere length were quantitatively paralleled by local changes of tissue segment length, the latter demarcated by microspheres lodged within the muscle tissue. At all but the shortest muscle lengths, sarcomere shortening was fully accounted for by equivalent lengthening of the non-striated regions near the clamped ends of the preparation. 4. It seems likely that these regions near the clamped ends of the preparation. 4. It seems constitute the source of the large series elasticity characteristic of isolated papillary muscle preparations such as this.

Animals

Influence of temperature on isometric contraction and passive muscular tension in paramyotonia congenita (Eulenburg).

Four patients without symptoms of episodic hyperkalemic weakness from two families with paramyotonia congenita (Eulenburg) are described. 1. Maximum voluntary muscle contraction of the upper and lower arm was studied under isometric conditions at different temperatures. If the temperature was lowered stepwise, distinct paresis occured at 32--31 degrees C which increased with the amount of muscular effort. The upper arm muscles, however, developed weakness gradually after cooling. 2. During cooling of the resting muscle, the EMG showed dense spontaneous activity of the fibrillary type, which decreased again at about 30 degrees C. It can be assumed that in paramyotonia congenita cooling produces muscle cell membrane depolarization which at a critical level causes the firing of action potentials and finally muscular paresis. 3. Increasing muscular stiffness can be interpreted as abnormally slow muscular relaxation after isometric contraction. In the forearm muscles the time to 3/4 relaxation after cooling was about six times normal, in the upper arm muscles only two times normal. As an additional parameter the mechanical resistance to passive stretching of a muscle has been studied. This passive muscular tension increased simultaneously with the onset of weakness. 4. The close relation between weakness and stiffness suggest that both symptoms are caused by the same basic defect which is probably located in the sarcolemma. It is suggested that a defect of the sodium channel causes a cooling-dependent increase in sodium conductance. Raised intracellular sodium causes in the first place membrane depolarization, and in the second place depression of calcium reuptake through competition by sodium for calcium binding sites. This would explain muscle stiffness and delayed relaxation as well.

Arm