Ontogenesis of contractile properties of skeletal muscle and sprint performance in the lizard Dipsosaurus dorsalis

Ontogenetic allometries of running performance in 3- to 4-m burst runs (sprints) and of the contractile properties of the fast-twitch, glycolytic region of the iliofibularis muscle (FG-IF) were measured in Dipsosaurus dorsalis. This iguanid lizard hatches at a body mass of about 4 g and reaches adult masses of 40–70 g. Running velocity was little influenced by changes in body mass during development. Stride frequency (f) declines ontogenetically and was proportional to body mass (Mb) to approximately the −0.2 power (determined by regression analysis). Stride length (Ls) appeared to be related to the allometry of hindlimb length (LHL); both Ls and LHL were proportional to about Mb0.28. Intrinsic shortening velocity of the FG-IF decreased only slightly with increasing body mass, and was consequently not proportional to f as has been assumed by various models of running dynamics. In contrast, twitch time lengthened markedly with increasing body mass, and the ratio of twitch time to stride time remained approximately constant. These results suggest that the intrinsic velocity of the muscles does not directly or solely determine maximal f, but instead limb kinematics are determined in part by other biomechanical constraints related to body dimensions. Further, the allometry of twitch kinetics supports the idea that the properties of the muscles are adjusted to allow ample time for full activation and deactivation within the biomechanically determined stride time.

Properties enhancing aerobic capacity of calling muscles in gray tree frogs Hyla versicolor

The muscle features that accommodate the extraordinarily high aerobic respiration during calling by the gray tree frog Hyla versicolor were examined. We compared the muscles used for calling by males (external and internal obliques and laryngeal muscles) with the homologous muscles of females and with the leg muscles of males and females. The leg muscles consisted of 75% by volume fast glycolytic fibers, a composition typical of other muscles described in anuran amphibians. In contrast the calling muscles of males consisted of 100% fast oxidative fibers and had citrate synthase (CS) activities among the highest recorded for ectothermic vertebrates, 65-80 mumol X min-1 X g fresh mass-1. We also noted a strong sexual dimorphism in size and oxidative capacity of these muscles. The external and internal obliques of females weighed an order of magnitude less than the corresponding muscles of males and had CS activities of only 6 mumol X min-1 X g-1. Morphometric measurements of transmission electron micrographs revealed that the calling muscles of males contained high mitochondrial densities (approximately 20% of fiber volume) and capillary densities (approximately 700 mm-2) compared with a representative hindlimb muscle, the sartorius (mitochondrial density, 6% of fiber volume; capillary density, 230 mm-2). These frog muscles, which operate at approximately 20 degrees C, have lower capillary densities per mitochondrial volume than are found in mammalian muscles that function at higher temperatures.

Thermal dependence of contractile properties of skeletal muscle from the lizard Sceloporus occidentalis with comments on methods for fitting and comparing force-velocity curves

The isometric and isotonic contractile properties of fast-twitch glycolytic fibres of the iliofibularis muscle (FG-IF) in the lizard Sceloporus occidentalis were measured in vitro at 5 degrees C intervals form 10 to 40 degrees C. The mean isometric parameters at 35 degrees C, the preferred body temperature of this species, were as follows: maximum isometric force (Po), 187 +/− 8 (S.E.M.) kNm-2; ratio of twitch force to tetanic force (PTW/Po), 0.46 +/− 0.02; time to peak twitch tension (tPTW), 7.0 +/− 0.3 ms; and time from peak twitch force to 50% relaxation (t50%), 8.2 +/− 0.3 ms. From 20 to 35 degrees C Po was almost constant (within 8% of the value at 35 degrees C). At 10 and 15 degrees C C. Po dropped to approximately 80% of the value at 35 degrees C. Po was very unstable at 40 degrees C. PTW/Po was almost constant at all temperatures. The time-related isometric parameters were positively modified by temperature at all temperatures measured (Q10 greater than 1.9). The force-velocity curves of the FG-IF deviated from the simple hyperbolic relation of A. V. Hill's characteristic equation. We present two alternative equations for fitting these data. These equations resulted in residual sums of squares from nonlinear least-squares analysis that were at least seven-fold lower than those from Hill's equation. The equation that best describes our data is a hyperbola modified by the addition of a linear component: V = B(1 - P/Po)/(A + P/Po) + C(1 - P/Po). To describe the curvature of this or any other force-velocity relationship, we propose the power ratio, Wmax/VmaxPo (where Wmax is the maximum power calculated from the force-velocity relationship and Vmax is the predicted maximum velocity of shortening at zero force). Vmax of the FG-IF was 21.9LoS-1 at 35 degrees C (where Lo is muscle length). This parameter was directly related to temperature between 10 and 35 degrees C with Q10 greater than 1.8. The shape of the force-velocity curve is not influenced by temperature (Wmax/VmaxPo = 0.11).

Thermal dependence of sprint performance of the lizard Sceloporus occidentalis

Sprint velocity of the lizard Sceloporus occidentalis was maximal at preferred body temperature (Tb, 35 degrees C). Mean running velocity (VR) and stride frequency (f) at this temperature were 3.23 +/− 0.7 (mean +/− S.E.M.) ms-1 and 15.6 +/− 0.3 s-1, respectively. VR and f did not change significantly when Tb was raised to 40 degrees C. At Tb values between 25 and 35 degrees C the thermal dependencies of VR (Q10 = 1.23) and f (Q10 = 1.12) were quite low. At Tb values below 25 degrees C the thermal dependence of these factors increased markedly. Stride length (LS) was independent of Tb from 15 to 40 degrees C. Lizards with a Tb of 10 degrees C were largely incapacitated, and VR, f and LS were all greatly reduced. Comparisons with measurements of the contractile properties of skeletal muscle of this species suggest that stride frequency is limited by the twitch contraction time at temperatures below 23 degrees C. At higher temperatures, sprint performance is nearly independent of the thermal effects on the muscles.

Thermal dependence of isotonic contractile properties of skeletal muscle and sprint performance of the lizard Dipsosaurus dorsalis

Contractile properties of the fast-twitch glycolytic (FG) portion of the iliofibularis muscle and sprint running performance were studied at approximately 5 degrees C intervals from 15-44 degrees C in the lizard Dipsosaurus dorsalis. Maximal running velocity (VR) and stride frequency (f) were both greatest when body temperature (Tb) was 40 degrees C, the field-active Tb in Dipsosaurus. At 40 degrees C VR was 4.3 +/- 0.2 m/s and f was 13.5 +/- 0.5 s-1. Between 25 and 40 degrees C, the thermal dependencies of VR and f were approximately constant (Q10's of 1.31 and 1.36 got VR and f, respectively). Below 25 degrees C performance declined more markedly with decreasing temperature. At 20 degrees C strides were qualitatively normal, but VR was only half of the value at 25 degrees C. At 15 degrees C the lizards were substantially incapacitated, and VR was 10% of the value at 20 degrees C. Stride length was approximately 0.33 m and changed very little with Tb from 20-44 degrees C. The time dependent contractile properties of FG muscle were affected more by temperature than was sprint performance. The maximal velocity of shortening at zero load (VO) was 18.7 0/s at 40 degrees C and had a Q10 of 1.7 from 25-40 degrees C. Maximal power output (Wmax) determined from the force-velocity curve was 464 W/kg at 40 degrees C. Below 40 degrees C max varied with temperature with a Q10 of 2-3. The shape of the force-velocity curve changed little with temperature (Wmax/POVO = 0.11). Between 25 and 40 degrees C a relatively temperature-independent process must modulate the effects of temperature on the contractile properties of the muscles that supply the power for burst locomotion. Storage and recovery of elastic energy appears to be a likely candidate for such a process. Below 25 degrees C, however, the contraction time is prolonged to such an extent that the f attainable is limited by the minimum time taken to contract and relax the muscles.

Critical importance of exposure duration for affective discrimination of stimuli that are not recognized

Previous research has found that repeated exposure to briefly presented visual stimuli can increase the positive affect for the stimuli without enhancing their recognition. Subjects could discriminate target and distractor shapes by affective preference in the absence of recognition memory. This study examined this phenomenon as a function of stimulus exposure duration. Over exposure durations of 0, 2, 8, 12, 24, and 48 ms, the functions for affect and recognition judgments exhibited different temporal dynamics. Target selection by affect was possible at very brief exposures and was influenced little by increasing durations; target selection by recognition required longer stimulus exposures and improved with increasing durations. Affective discrimination of stimuli that are not recognized is a reliable phenomenon, but it occurs only within a narrow band of time. This parametric study has specified the relationship between exposure duration and affect and recognition judgments and has located that temporal window.

Critical importance of exposure duration for affective discrimination of stimuli that are not recognized

Previous research has found that repeated exposure to briefly presented visual stimuli can increase the positive affect for the stimuli without enhancing their recognition. Subjects could discriminate target and distractor shapes by affective preference in the absence of recognition memory. This study examined this phenomenon as a function of stimulus exposure duration. Over exposure durations of 0, 2, 8, 12, 24, and 48 ms, the functions for affect and recognition judgments exhibited different temporal dynamics. Target selection by affect was possible at very brief exposures and was influenced little by increasing durations; target selection by recognition required longer stimulus exposures and improved with increasing durations. Affective discrimination of stimuli that are not recognized is a reliable phenomenon, but it occurs only within a narrow band of time. This parametric study has specified the relationship between exposure duration and affect and recognition judgments and has located that temporal window.

Metabolic adjustments of small passerine birds for migration and cold

Passerines (members of the order Passeriformes such as finches, chickadees, jays, and warblers) are predominantly small birds characterized by relatively intense metabolic rates. Members of this group breeding at middle or high latitudes may either evade winter cold by migration or enhance their resistance to it by acclimatization. We review the energetic consequences associated with these two modes of response. Despite their apparent dissimilarity, migration and winter acclimatization both depend on substantial aerobic endurance, and both involve extensive power outputs by the flight muscles in locomotion or shivering. Such power outputs entail extensive deposition and catabolism of fat. Information available on these processes and their control in passerine birds is discussed. Knowledge of them is still in a formative stage, but it is already clear that aerobic capacity of passerines is stable at a high level throughout the year. However, changes are observed in the activity of certain enzymes involved in the catabolism of fats and carbohydrates. Full interpretation of these findings must await additional research. Nevertheless it is evident that the complex processes of migration and winter acclimatization are intimately linked with the metabolic properties of the highly aerobic skeletal muscle contained within the flight apparatus of passerines.

Substrate metabolism in seasonally acclimatized American goldfinches

Concentration of ([Glc]) and turnover (Ro) of plasma glucose, concentration of free fatty acids in plasma ([FFA]), and concentration of glycogen in muscle and liver were measured in freshly captured summer- and winter-acclimatized American goldfinches (Carduelis tristis). These birds were acutely exposed to one of three thermal regimes: 1) "thermoneutral," 30 degrees C in air, 2) "cold," -15 degrees C in air, and 3) "severe cold," 0 degrees C in 79% He and 21% O2. Additionally, the activities of citrate synthase (CS), phosphofructokinase (PFK), and beta-hydroxyacyl-CoA dehydrogenase (HOAD) were measured in pectoralis and leg muscles of winter and summer birds. Ro for goldfinches at 30 degrees C is unchanged between winter and summer, whereas it is 25% lower at -15 degrees C in winter than in summer birds, even though rates of heat production are similar. Additionally, winter animals depleted muscle glycogen at slower rates than summer individuals when exposed to "cold" or "severe cold." [Glc] and [FFA] for each test regime did not vary between seasons. The activity of the beta-oxidative enzyme HOAD is the pectoralis muscle (the main thermogenic tissue) increases by 50% from summer to winter, but the activities of PFK and CS remain essentially constant. We conclude that the ability to restrict carbohydrate use under cold stress is a component of the winter acclimatization process in the American goldfinch. One mechanism which might foster this ability in the increase in beta-oxidative capacity of the flight muscles, permitting a greater reliance on fatty acids by winter animals during cold-induced thermogenesis.