Critical dependence of calcium-activated force on width in highly compressed skinned fibers of the frog

Muscle active force-length curve explained by an electrophysical model of interfilament spacing

The active isometric force-length relation (FLR) of striated muscle sarcomeres is central to understanding and modeling muscle function. The mechanistic basis of the descending arm of the FLR is well explained by the decreasing thin:thick filament overlap that occurs at long sarcomere lengths. The mechanistic basis of the ascending arm of the FLR (the decrease in force that occurs at short sarcomere lengths), alternatively, has never been well explained. Because muscle is a constant-volume system, interfilament lattice distances must increase as sarcomere length shortens. This increase would decrease thin and thick-filament electrostatic interactions independently of thin:thick filament overlap. To examine this effect, we present here a fundamental, physics-based model of the sarcomere that includes filament molecular properties, calcium binding, sarcomere geometry including both thin:thick filament overlap and interfilament radial distance, and electrostatics. The model gives extremely good fits to existing FLR data from a large number of different muscles across their entire range of measured activity levels, with the optimized parameter values in all cases lying within anatomically and physically reasonable ranges. A local first-order sensitivity analysis (varying individual parameters while holding the values of all others constant) shows that model output is most sensitive to a subset of model parameters, most of which are related to sarcomere geometry, with model output being most sensitive to interfilament radial distance. This conclusion is supported by re-running the fits with only this parameter subset being allowed to vary, which increases fit errors only moderately. These results show that the model well reproduces existing experimental data, and indicate that changes in interfilament spacing play as central a role as changes in filament overlap in determining the FLR, particularly on its ascending arm.

Post-activation Potentiation Versus Post-activation Performance Enhancement in Humans: Historical Perspective, Underlying Mechanisms, and Current Issues

Post-activation potentiation (PAP) is a well-described phenomenon with a short half-life (~28 s) that enhances muscle force production at submaximal levels of calcium saturation (i.e., submaximal levels of muscle activation). It has been largely explained by an increased myosin light chain phosphorylation occurring in type II muscle fibers, and its effects have been quantified in humans by measuring muscle twitch force responses to a bout of muscular activity. However, enhancements in (sometimes maximal) voluntary force production detected several minutes after high-intensity muscle contractions are also observed, which are also most prominent in muscles with a high proportion of type II fibers. This effect has been considered to reflect PAP. Nonetheless, the time course of myosin light chain phosphorylation (underpinning “classic” PAP) rarely matches that of voluntary force enhancement and, unlike PAP, changes in muscle temperature, muscle/cellular water content, and muscle activation may at least partly underpin voluntary force enhancement; this enhancement has thus recently been called post-activation performance enhancement (PAPE) to distinguish it from “classical” PAP. In fact, since PAPE is often undetectable at time points where PAP is maximal (or substantial), some researchers have questioned whether PAP contributes to PAPE under most conditions in vivo in humans. Equally, minimal evidence has been presented that PAP is of significant practical importance in cases where multiple physiological processes have already been upregulated by a preceding, comprehensive, active muscle warm-up. Given that confusion exists with respect to the mechanisms leading to acute enhancement of both electrically evoked (twitch force; PAP) and voluntary (PAPE) muscle function in humans after acute muscle activity, the first purpose of the present narrative review is to recount the history of PAP/PAPE research to locate definitions and determine whether they are the same phenomena. To further investigate the possibility of these phenomena being distinct as well as to better understand their potential functional benefits, possible mechanisms underpinning their effects will be examined in detail. Finally, research design issues will be addressed which might contribute to confusion relating to PAP/PAPE effects, before the contexts in which these phenomena may (or may not) benefit voluntary muscle function are considered.

Impact of transversal calf muscle loading on plantarflexion

Muscle compression commonly occurs in daily life (for instance wearing backpacks or compression garments, and during sitting). However, the effects of the compression on contraction dynamics in humans are not well examined. The aim of the study was to quantify the alterations of contraction dynamics and muscle architecture in human muscle with external transverse loads. The posterior tibialis nerve of 29 subjects was stimulated to obtain the maximal double-twitch force of the gastrocnemius muscle with and without transverse compression that was generated using an indentor. The muscle architecture was determined by a sonographic probe that was embedded within the indentor. Five stimulations each were conducted at 5 conditions: (1) pretest (unloaded), (2) indentor loading with 2 kg, (3) 4.5 kg, (4) 10 kg, and (5) posttest (unloaded). Compared to the pretest maximal force decreased by 9%, 13% and 16% for 2 kg, 4.5 kg and 10 kg, respectively. The half-relaxation time increased with increased transverse load whereas the rate of force development decreased from pretest to 2 kg and from 4.5 kg to 10 kg. The lifting height of the indentor increased with transverse load from 2 kg to 4.5 kg but decreased from 4.5 kg to 10 kg. Increases in pennation during the twitches were reduced at the highest transverse load. The results demonstrate changes of the contraction dynamics due to transversal muscle loading. Those alterations are associated with the applied pressure, changes in muscle architecture and partitioning of muscle force in transversal and longitudinal direction.

Myosin filament sliding through the Z-disc relates striated muscle fibre structure to function

Striated muscle contraction requires intricate interactions of microstructures. The classic textbook assumption that myosin filaments are compressed at the meshed Z-disc during striated muscle fibre contraction conflicts with experimental evidence. For example, myosin filaments are too stiff to be compressed sufficiently by the muscular force, and, unlike compressed springs, the muscle fibres do not restore their resting length after contractions to short lengths. Further, the dependence of a fibre's maximum contraction velocity on sarcomere length is unexplained to date. In this paper, we present a structurally consistent model of sarcomere contraction that reconciles these findings with the well-accepted sliding filament and crossbridge theories. The few required model parameters are taken from the literature or obtained from reasoning based on structural arguments. In our model, the transition from hexagonal to tetragonal actin filament arrangement near the Z-disc together with a thoughtful titin arrangement enables myosin filament sliding through the Z-disc. This sliding leads to swivelled crossbridges in the adjacent half-sarcomere that dampen contraction. With no fitting of parameters required, the model predicts straightforwardly the fibre's entire force-length behaviour and the dependence of the maximum contraction velocity on sarcomere length. Our model enables a structurally and functionally consistent view of the contractile machinery of the striated fibre with possible implications for muscle diseases and evolution.

Sarcomeric visco-elasticity of chemically skinned skeletal muscle fibres of the rabbit at rest

The giant muscle protein titin (connectin), contained in the gap filament that connect a thick filament to the Z-line in a sarcomere, is generally considered to be responsible for the passive force (tension) and visco-elasticity in resting striated muscle. However, whether it can account for all the features of the resting tension response remains unclear. In this paper, we examine the basic features of the 'sarcomeric visco-elasticity' in a single resting mammalian muscle fibre and attempt to account for various tension components on the basis of known structural features of a sarcomere. At sarcomere length of approximately 2.6 microm, the force response to a ramp stretch of 2-5% is complex but can be resolved into four functionally different components. The behaviour displayed by the components ranges from pure viscous type (directly proportional to stretch velocity, ranging from 0.1 to 30 lengths s(-1)) to predominantly elastic type (insensitive to stretch velocity at 1-2 s time scale); simulations show two components of visco-elasticity with characteristically different relaxation times. The velocity-sensitive components (only) are enhanced by filament lattice compression (dextran - 500 kD) and by increased medium viscosity (dextran - 12 kD); also, the relaxation time of visco-elasticity is longer with increased medium viscosity. Amplitude of all the components and the relaxation time of visco-elasticity are increased at longer sarcomere length (range approximately 2.5 - 3.0 microm). The study, and quantitative analyses, extend our previous work on intact muscle fibres and suggest that the velocity-sensitive tension components in intact sarcomere arise from interactions between sarcomeric filaments, filament segments and inter-filamentary medium; the two components of visco-elasticity arise from distinct regions of titin (connectin) molecules.

Z/I and A-band lattice spacings in frog skeletal muscle: effects of contraction and osmolarity

A-band and Z-line/I-band lattice spacings were measured by small-angle X-ray diffraction from relaxed and isometrically-contracting whole frog sartorius muscles with lattice spacings reduced or swollen by changing the osmolarity of the bathing solution. A-band spacing increased by approximately 3% upon isometric contraction at reduced lattice spacings (245-356 mOsm) and decreased by approximately 1% at swollen spacings (172 mOsm), similarly to the behaviour of skinned muscles upon changing from the relaxed state to rigor. The Z/I lattice underwent a significant lattice expansion (3-8%) upon isometric contraction at all osmolarities, in qualitative agreement (but quantitative disagreement) with results from electron microscopy on mammalian skeletal muscle. Lattice areas calculated for the Z/I and A-band lattices indicate a barrel-shaped sarcomere in the resting state, which may provide a partial explanation for how longitudinal forces produced in the A-band can produce a radial expansive force in the Z-line during contraction. The radial component of cross-bridge stiffness was calculated from the A-band data for contracting muscle, using a lattice stability model incorporating structural, osmotic and electrostatic forces. The calculations gave a radial cross-bridge stiffness during contraction of about 9 x 10(5) N m-2, and outward radial force per thick filament in normal Ringer's solution of 6 x 10(-9) N, corresponding to a radial force per cross-bridge of 10(-11) N.

The filament lattice of striated muscle

The filament lattice of striated muscle is an overlapping hexagonal array of thick and thin filaments within which muscle contraction takes place. Its structure can be studied by electron microscopy or X-ray diffraction. With the latter technique, structural changes can be monitored during contraction and other physiological conditions. The lattice of intact muscle fibers can change size through osmotic swelling or shrinking or by changing the sarcomere length of the muscle. Similarly, muscle fibers that have been chemically or mechanically skinned can be compressed with bathing solutions containing very large inert polymeric molecules. The effects of lattice change on muscle contraction in vertebrate skeletal and cardiac muscle and in invertebrate striated muscle are reviewed. The force developed, the speed of shortening, and stiffness are compared with structural changes occurring within the lattice. Radial forces between the filaments in the lattice, which can include electrostatic, Van der Waals, entropic, structural, and cross bridge, are assessed for their contributions to lattice stability and to the contraction process.

Temperature-dependent changes in the viscoelasticity of intact resting mammalian (rat) fast- and slow-twitch muscle fibres

1. The tension and sarcomere length responses induced by ramp stretches (at amplitudes of 1-3 % fibre length (Lo) and speeds of 0.01-12 Lo s-1) were examined at different temperatures (range, 10-35 degrees C) in resting intact muscle fibre bundles isolated from the soleus (a slow-twitch muscle) and extensor digitorum longus (a fast-twitch muscle) of the rat. Some observations are also presented on the effects of chemical skinning on passive viscoelasticity at 10 degrees C. 2. As previously reported, the tension response to a ramp stretch, in different preparations and under various conditions, could be resolved into a viscous (P1), a viscoelastic (P2) and an elastic (P3) component and showed characteristic differences between slow and fast muscle fibres. 3. Chemical skinning of the muscle fibres led to a decrease in the amplitude of all three tension components. However, the fast-slow fibre differences remained after skinning. For example, the viscosity coefficient derived from P1 tension data decreased from 0.84 +/- 0.06 before skinning to 0.44 +/- 0.06 kN s m-2 after skinning in fast fibres; the corresponding values in slow fibres were 2.1 +/- 0.08 and 0.87 +/- 0.09 kN s m-2, respectively. 4. Increasing the experimental temperature from 10 to 35 degrees C led to a decrease in all the tension components in both fast and slow muscle fibre bundles. The decrease of P1 (viscous) tension was such that the viscosity coefficient calculated using P1 data was reduced from 0.84 +/- 0.1 to 0.43 +/- 0.05 kN s m-2 in fast fibres and from 2.0 +/- 0.1 to 1.0 +/- 0.1 kN s m-2 in slow fibres (Q10 of approximately 1.3 in both). 5. In both fast and slow muscle fibre preparations, the plateau tension of the viscoelastic component (P2) decreased by 60-80 % as the temperature was increased from 10 to 35 degrees C giving P2 tension a Q10 of approximately 1.4 in slow fibres and approximately 1.7 in the fast fibres. Additionally, the relaxation time of the viscoelasticity decreased from 11.9 +/- 1 ms (fast) and 43.1 +/- 1 ms (slow) at 10 degrees C to 3 +/- 0.5 ms (fast) at 25 C degrees and 8. 7 +/- 0.6 ms (slow) at 35 degrees C (Q10 of approximately 2.0 in slow and approximately 2.5 in fast fibres). 6. The fast-slow fibre differences in passive viscoelasticity remained at the high physiological temperatures. The physiological significance of such fibre-type differences and their possible underlying mechanisms are discussed.

Myosin head orientation and mobility during isometric contraction: effects of osmotic compression

We have correlated the mobility and the generation of force of myosin heads by applying radial compression to isometrically contracting muscle fibers. Osmotic pressure was produced by dextran T-500, and its effect on the orientation and mobility of myosin heads labeled with N-(1-oxy-2,2,5,5-tetramethyl-4-pyperidinyl)maleimide was observed by conventional and saturation-transfer electron paramagnetic resonance methods. A biphasic behavior is spectral changes coinciding with the tension dependence was observed as the fibers were compressed. At diameters above the equilibrium spacing, the large myosin head disorder characteristic during contraction in the absence of compression was largely maintained, whereas the mobility decreased threefold, from tauR approximately 25 microseconds to approximately 80-90 microseconds. The inhibition of fast microsecond motions was not accompanied by tension loss, implying that these motions are not necessary for force generation. At diameters below the equilibrium spacing, both the disorder and the mobility decreased dramatically in parallel with the tension inhibition, suggesting that slower microsecond motions and the disorder of the myosin head are necessary for muscle function.

The effect of hypertonicity on force generation in tetanized single fibres from frog skeletal muscle

1. We compared the tension transient that follows a step change in sarcomere length in normal Ringer solution with that in Ringer solution made hypertonic by the addition of 98 mM sucrose. Steps were applied on tetanized single muscle fibres during either the isometric plateau or the steady force response to lengthening at low speed. Sarcomere length was controlled on selected fibre segments by a striation follower. Analysis is limited to phase 1 (the tension change simultaneous with the length step, mainly due to cross-bridge elasticity) and phase 2 (the quick phase of tension recovery, a manifestation of the cross-bridge elementary force-generating process). 2. At the isometric tetanus plateau the steady force is reduced by 19% in hypertonic solution, and the stiffness is slightly increased. During slow lengthening both steady force and stiffness are similar in normal solution and in hypertonic solution. In hypertonic solution the tension-to-stiffness ratio, a measure of the mean cross-bridge extension before the step, is markedly reduced in isometric conditions (-23%), but not during lengthening (-2%). 3. The plots of instantaneous tension versus the length change during the step show that in hypertonic medium the elasticity of the fibre is almost undamped. Thus the increase in stiffness cannot be attributed to an increase in viscosity. 4. In isometric conditions (T2-T1)/(Ti-T1), the proportion of the initial tension drop recovered at the end of phase 2, is not affected by hypertonicity for releases of moderate and large size (> 2 nm) and is reduced for small releases (< 2 nm) and for stretches. The abscissa intercept of the relation (T2-T1)/(Ti-T1) versus step amplitude is the same in both media. During lengthening, for releases of small and moderate size, (T2-T1)/(Ti-T1) is 20% lower in hypertonic solution. For large releases the slope of the relation is lower so that the abscissa intercept is not changed. 5. The speed of quick tension recovery following a step length change imposed in isometric conditions is slightly depressed in hypertonic solution. The relation between speed of recovery and step amplitude maintains its shape and is shifted downwards. During lengthening, the speed of quick tension recovery in hypertonic solution is less dependent on step amplitude than in normal solution, as if a more linear viscoelasticity is responsible for a large fraction of residual recovery.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 400 WORDS)

Effects of pressure on equatorial x-ray fiber diffraction from skeletal muscle fibers

When skeletal muscle fibers are subjected to a hydrostatic pressure of 10 MPa (100 atmospheres), reversible changes in tension occur. Passive tension from relaxed muscle is unaffected, rigor tension rises, and active tension falls. The effects of pressure on muscle structure are unknown: therefore a pressure-resistant cell for x-ray diffraction has been built, and this paper reports the first study of the low-angle equatorial patterns of pressurized relaxed, rigor, and active muscle fibers, with direct comparisons from the same chemically skinned rabbit psoas muscle fibers at 0.1 and 10 MPa. Relaxed and rigor fibers show little change in the intensity of the equatorial reflections when pressurized to 10 MPa, but there is a small, reversible expansion of the lattice of 0.7 and 0.4%, respectively. This shows that the order and stability of the myofilament lattice is undisturbed by this pressure. The rise in rigor tension under pressure is thus probably due to axial shortening of one or more components of the sarcomere. Initial results from active fibers at 0.1 MPa show that when phosphate is added the lattice spacing and equatorial intensities change toward their relaxed values. This indicates cross-bridge detachment, as expected from the reduction in tension that phosphate induces. 10 MPa in the presence of phosphate at 11 degrees C causes tension to fall by a further 12%, but not change is detected in the relative intensity of the reflections, only a small increase in lattice spacing. Thus pressure appears to increase the proportion of attached cross-bridges in a low-force state.

The effect of lattice spacing change on cross-bridge kinetics in rabbit psoas fibers

The effect of compression on the elementary steps of the cross-bridge cycle was investigated with the sinusoidal analysis technique and ATP hydrolysis rate measurement. The lattice spacing of rabbit psoas muscle fibers was osmotically compressed with a macromolecule, dextran T-500 (0-16%). The effects of MgATP, MgADP, Pi on exponential processes (B), (C), (D), and isometric tension were studied at different dextran concentrations. The experiments were performed at the saturating Ca concentration (pCa 4.5-4.8), 200 mM ionic strength, pH 7.0, and 20 degrees C. Our results show that the fiber width decreased linearly with an increase in the dextran concentration, and the width measurement was perfectly correlated with the lattice spacing measurement using equatorial x-ray diffraction studies. We find that the nucleotide binding steps, the ATP-isomerization step, and the cross-bridge detachment step were minimally affected by the compression. Our results indicate that the rate constant of the reverse power stroke step (k-4) decreases with mild compression (0-6.3% dextran), presumably because of the stabilization of the attached cross-bridges in the AM*DP state. We also found that the rate constant of the power stroke step (k4) decreases with higher compression (> 6.3% dextran), presumably because of increased difficulty in performing the power stroke reaction. Our results further show that the association constant (K5) of phosphate to cross-bridges is not changed with compression. The ATP hydrolysis rate declined almost linearly with an increase in the dextran concentration. This observation indicates that the rate limiting step is also affected by the lattice spacing change so that the associated rate constant (k6) becomes progressively less with compression.

The effect of the lattice spacing change on cross-bridge kinetics in chemically skinned rabbit psoas muscle fibers. II. Elementary steps affected by the spacing change

The actin-myosin lattice spacing of rabbit psoas fibers was osmotically compressed with a dextran T-500, and its effect on the elementary steps of the cross-bridge cycle was investigated. Experiments were performed at the saturating Ca (pCa 4.5-4.9), 200 mM ionic strength, pH 7.0, and at 20 degrees C, and the results were analyzed by the following cross-bridge scheme: [formula: see text] where A = actin, M = myosin head, S = MgATP, D = MgADP, and P = Pi = phosphate. From MgATP and MgADP studies on exponential process (C) and (D), the association constants of cross-bridges to MgADP (K0), MgATP (K1a), the rate constants of the isomerization of the AM S state (k1b and k-1b), and the rate constants of the cross-bridge detachment step (k2 and k-2) were deduced. From Pi study on process (B), the rate constants of the cross-bridge attachment (power stroke) step (k4- and k-4) and the association constant of Pi ions to cross-bridges (K5) were deduced. From ATP hydrolysis measurement, the rate constant of ADP-isomerization (rate-limiting) step (k6) was deduced. These kinetic constants were studied as functions of dextran concentrations. Our results show that nucleotide binding, the ATP-isomerization, and the cross-bridge detachment steps are minimally affected by the compression. The rate constant of the reverse power stroke step (k-4) decreases with mild compression (0-6.3% dextran), presumably because of the stabilization of the attached cross-bridges in the AM*DP state. The rate constant of the power stroke step (k4) does not change with mild compression, but it decreases with higher compression (> 6.3% dextran), presumably because of an increased difficulty in performing the power stroke. These results are consistent with the observation that isometric tension increases with a low level of compression and decreases with a high level of compression. Our results also show that the association constant K5 of Pi with cross-bridge state AM*D is not changed with compression. Our result further show that the ATP hydrolysis rate decreased with compression, and that the rate constants of the ADP-isomerization step (k6) becomes progressively less with compression. The effect of compression on the power stroke step and rate-limiting step implies that a large-scale molecular rearrangement in the myosin head takes place in these two slow reaction steps.

Tetragonal deformation of the hexagonal myofilament matrix in single skinned skeletal muscle fibres owing to change in sarcomere length

Single skinned skeletal muscle fibres were immersed in solutions containing two different levels of activator calcium (pCa: 4.4; 6.0). Sarcomere length was varied from 1.6 to 3.5 microns and recorded by laser diffraction. Slack length was 2.0 microns. Small-angle equatorial X-ray diffraction patterns of relaxed and activated fibres at different sarcomere lengths were recorded using synchrotron radiation. The position and amplitude of the diffraction peaks were calculated from the spectra based on the hexagonal arrangement of the myofilament matrix, relating the position of the (1.0)- and (1.1)-diffraction peaks in this model by square root of 3. The diffraction peaks were fitted by five Gaussian functions (1.0, 1.1, 2.0, 2.1 and Z-line) and residual background was corrected by means of a hyperbola. The coupling of the position of the (1.0)- and (1.1)-peak was expressed as a factor: FAC = [d(1.0)/d(1.1)]/square root 3. In the relaxed state this coupling factor decreased at increasing sarcomere length (0.9880 +/- 0.002 at 2.0 microns; 0.900 +/- 0.01 at 3.5 microns). The coupling factor tends toward the one that will be obtained from the squared structure of actin filaments near the Z-discs. At shorter sarcomere lengths a decrease of the coupling factor has also been seen (0.9600 +/- 0.005 at 1.6 microns), giving rise to an increased uniform deformation of the hexagonal matrix, when sarcomere length is changed from slack length. From these experiments we conclude that a change in sarcomere length (from slack length) increases the deformation of the actin-myosin matrix to a tetragonal lattice.

Z-line/I-band and A-band lattices of intact frog sartorius muscle at altered interfilament spacing

Muscle contraction has long been known to be affected by the osmolarity of the bathing solution. Part of this effect is caused by changes in interfilament spacing in the A-band. We have investigated the variation in spacing of the square lattice of thin filaments within and near the Z-line (the Z-line/I-band or Z-I lattice) in intact frog sartorius muscle over a wide range of osmolarities and compared it with the corresponding changes in the A-band lattice. Both lattices have a lower limit for compression and an upper limit for swelling. The spacing of the Z-I lattice is nearly proportional to that of the A-band, but shows a 2-3% variation at extreme shrinkage or swelling. In normal intact muscle, the osmotically-inactive volume of both lattices is between 20 and 30%. These in vivo measurements of lattice spacing differ significantly from those observed in electron micrographs. With moderate variations in osmolarity, lattice spacing and muscle fibre width show similar behaviour, but at extreme osmolarities, the lattice spacing changes less than the fibre width. An equatorial reflection was observed in intact muscle, previously identified in skinned muscle, which does not index on the A-band and which changes with osmolarity in a manner different from that observed for the A-band and Z-I lattices. This reflection may arise from changes in the ordering of the Z-I lattice or may involve components additional to the thick and thin filaments.

Myosin heads contact with thin filaments in compressed relaxed skinned fibres of frog skeletal muscle

When skinned skeletal muscle fibres with rest sarcomere length (L = 2.5 microns) are compressed by the addition of various concentrations ([PVP]) of polyvinylpyrrolidine, the relation between the 1,0 spacing (d) of thick filament lattice and [PVP] has been known to break at d of around 35 nm, resulting in a steeper slope of the relationship at d greater than 35 nm. To clarify the cause of this, X-ray diffraction and crosslinking experiments were carried out. The d versus [PVP] relationship of stretched fibres (L = 3.5 microns) breaks at a d of around 29 nm. The difference between these characteristic d values, 35-29 = 6 nm, is close to the diameter of thin filaments (8 nm). The crosslinking efficiency of formaldehyde between myosin heads and thin filament surface, measured by radial stiffness increase, was found to begin to markedly increase when the relaxed fibre with rest L was compressed to a d of nearly 35 nm. In addition to these results, the d versus [PVP] relationship obtained in rigor and in high [Mg2+] (30 mM) relaxing solutions, and the crosslinking efficiency seen in high [Mg2+] solutions supported our previous hypothesis that in normal relaxing solution (containing 1 mM Mg2+) the probability of myosin heads coming into contact with the thin filament surface abruptly increases at d near 35 nm in fibres with rest L.

Hydrostatic compression in glycerinated rabbit muscle fibers

Glycerinated muscle fibers isolated from rabbit psoas muscle, and a number of other nonmuscle elastic fibers including glass, rubber, and collagen, were exposed to hydrostatic pressures of up to 10 MPa (100 Atm) to determine the pressure sensitivity of their isometric tension. The isometric tension of muscle fibers in the relaxed state (passive tension) was insensitive to increased pressure, whereas the muscle fiber tension in rigor state increased linearly with pressure. The tension of all other fiber types (except rubber) also increased with pressure; the rubber tension was pressure insensitive. The pressure sensitivity of rigor tension was 2.3 kN/m2/MPa and, in comparison with force/extension relation determined at atmospheric pressure, the hydrostatic compression in rigor muscle fibers was estimated to be 0.03% Lo/MPa. As reported previously, the active muscle fiber tension is depressed by increased pressure. The possible underlying basis of the different pressure-dependent tension behavior in relaxed, rigor, and active muscle is discussed.

Osmotic compression and stiffness changes in relaxed skinned cardiac myocytes in PVP-40 and dextran T-500

Sarcomere lengths, cell widths, indices of stiffness, and striation pattern uniformity were determined from radially compressed isolated adult cardiac myocytes from the rat. Single cells were bathed in a series of relaxing solutions containing 0-15% concentrations of nonpenetrating long chain polymers PVP-40 and dextran T-500. There were no significant changes observed in average sarcomere lengths or in striation pattern uniformity at any concentration. But cell widths decreased and stiffness increased in both polymers in a concentration-osmotic pressure-dependent relationship. Changes in cell width and stiffness were repeatable in either polymer, but only after an initial compression with a 10 or 15% concentration solution. The observed reduction in cell width after initial compression correlates well with known myofilament lattice spacing compression in rat cardiac muscle and is qualitatively similar to compressions seen in skeletal muscle preparations. But the cardiac myofilament lattice may not be as compressible as the skeletal lattice. Like skeletal muscle, stiffness exhibits a two-phase relationship where most of the increase occurs at solution osmotic pressures greater than 20 Torr. Finally, the inherently greater passive stiffness-length relationship of cardiac muscle is maintained at higher osmotic pressures such that the passive elastic modulus is strongly length dependent.

Diffraction ellipsometry studies of osmotically compressed muscle fibers

Microstructural features of relaxed, skinned muscle fibers compressed with polyvinylpyrrolidone were examined by optical diffraction ellipsometry. This technique is sensitive to the optical anisotropy within the muscle, including that due to intrinsic properties of the protein molecules as well as that due to the regular arrangement of proteins in the surrounding medium. The change in polarization state of light after interacting with the muscle is described by the differential field ratio (DFR) and birefringence (delta n). Compression of single fibers (sarcomere length = 2.6 microns) with 0%-21% polyvinylpyrrolidone caused an increase of up to 23% and 31% for DFR and delta n, respectively. The largest increase in both parameters occurred at intermediate sarcomere lengths. Theoretical modelling of the results suggest that the average S-1 tilt angle may be reduced upon compression of the filament lattice. This is supported by experiments in which S-1 was enzymatically cleaved with alpha-chymotrypsin. Separate experiments comparing fibers with intact membranes and skinned fibers compressed to an equivalent lattice spacing showed little difference in DFR or delta n.

Behaviour of the crossbridges in stretched or compressed muscle fibres

The maximum chord of the myosin heads is comparable to the closest surface-to-surface spacing between the myofilaments in a muscle at the slack length. Therefore, when the sarcomere length increases or when the fibre is compressed, the surface-to-surface myofilament spacing becomes lower than the head long axis. We conclude that, in stretched or compressed fibres, some crossbridges cannot attach, owing to steric hindrance. When the amount of compression is limited, this hindrance may be overcome by a tilting of the heads in the plane perpendicular to the filament axes; in this case, there is no consequence as concerns the crossbridge properties. In highly compressed fibres, the crossbridges become progressively hindered and all the crossbridges are hindered for an axis-to-axis spacing representing about 60% of the spacing observed under zero external osmotic pressure. In this case, both the isometric tension and the ATPase activity of the fibre are zero. In fibres stretched up to 3.77 microns (sarcomere length corresponding to the disappearance of the overlap between the thick and the thin filaments), the ratio of hindered crossbridges over the functional crossbridges may be estimated at about 55%. In stretched fibres, a noticeable proportion of crossbridges are sterically hindered and the crossbridges performance (e.g. constants of attachment and detachment) depends on filament spacing, i.e. on sarcomere length. Therefore, we think it is probably impossible to consider the crossbridges as independent force converters, since this idea requires that the crossbridge properties are independent of sarcomere length. In this connection, all the experiments performed on osmotically compressed fibres are of major importance for the understanding of the true mechanisms of muscle contraction.

The effects of tonicity on tension and stiffness of tetanized skeletal muscle fibres of the frog

Tension and stiffness of tetanically activated skeletal muscle fibres of the frog were studied at varied tonicity of the extracellular medium (1.7-3.2 degrees C; sarcomere length, 2.13-2.22 microns). The stiffness was measured from the change in peak tension in response to fast (0.2 ms) stretches and releases of small amplitude (0.11-0.15% of the fibre length). The bathing solution was made hypotonic by reduction of NaCl and hypertonic by addition of sucrose. The osmotic strength of the solutions tested varied from 81 to 168% of the isotonic value. Maximum tetanic tension decreased markedly with increased tonicity. The active stiffness, on the other hand, increased as the tonicity was raised, and the tension/stiffness ratio (the total extension of the undamped fibre elasticity) was thus greatly reduced under these conditions. Evidence is presented to show that the change in the tension/stiffness ratio is due neither to the development of rigor cross-bridges nor to the recruitment of passive parallel-elastic elements in response to increased tonicity. Neither are viscous-like components important for explaining the effect. A change in the tension/stiffness ratio, similar to that seen in response to increased tonicity, did not occur as fibre width was reduced by increasing the sarcomere length. This suggests that the changes in the fibre volume affect this ratio mainly by mechanisms that are unrelated to changes in lateral spacing between the myofilaments.

Pressure sensitivity of active tension in glycerinated rabbit psoas muscle fibres: effects of ADP and phosphate

The effect of changes in hydrostatic pressure (up to 10 MPa) on the maximally calcium-activated tension in glycerinated rabbit psoas fibres has been examined. The steady active tension was depressed by 0.8% per MPa pressure rise. This pressure sensitivity was enhanced by the pressure of millimolar phosphate and depressed by millimolar ADP. These results support the conclusions that increased pressure is perturbing a crossbridge event. The results are discussed in terms of a three state crossbridge model and are shown to be compatible with a pressure effect on the transition from an attached crossbridge state to a tension bearing state. This is compatible with the effects of pressure on the isolated proteins in solution.

Length and myofilament spacing-dependent changes in calcium sensitivity of skeletal fibres: effects of pH and ionic strength

The calcium sensitivity of force was measured in glycerinated rabbit psoas fibres at sarcomere lengths (SL) from 2.3 to 3.4 micron. Increased SL caused calcium sensitivity to increase and the slope of force-calcium relations to decrease. We have hypothesized that length-dependent changes in myofilament lattice spacing and the presence of fixed charge on the myofilaments are important in determining calcium sensitivity. Lattice spacing changes were monitored by measuring fibre diameter (D). D was decreased by increasing SL, decreasing bathing solution pH and by osmotic compression with 3% PVP. 3% PVP caused D to decrease by about 15% at all SLs and pH values tested. Force-calcium relations were measured at different SLs and pH values, with and without 3% PVP in the bathing solutions. At all pH values D at SL 2.3 micron with 3% PVP was comparable to the value at 3.4 micron, without PVP. At pH 7.5 and 7.0 calcium sensitivity was about the same at both SL, although the slope of the force-calcium relation was less at longer SL. The similarity of the calcium sensitivity at the same D, but much different SL, indicates that lattice spacing is important in determining calcium sensitivity, while SL and the degree of myofilament overlap are important in determining the slope of force-calcium relations. In order to test for the role of myofilament charge in determining calcium sensitivity, pH and ionic strength were varied. Decreasing pH caused decreased maximum force and calcium sensitivity. In addition, the influence of SL on calcium sensitivity decreased as pH was lowered, with minimal SL dependence at pH 5.5; even though lattice spacing still decreased with increasing SL. When D was decreased with PVP, calcium sensitivity increased at all SLs in pH 7.5 and 7.0 while the same lattice spacing changes at pH 6.0 and 5.5 resulted in greatly reduced shifts in calcium sensitivity. These results indicate that the effect of lattice spacing on calcium sensitivity depends on myofilament charge. At pH 6.0, even though osmotic compression of the lattice has no effect, increasing SL causes about half the shift in calcium sensitivity seen at pH 7.0. Lowering ionic strength from 200 to 110 mM caused an increase in both the magnitude and length dependence of calcium sensitivity at pH 7.0, while at pH 5.5 both decreased.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 400 WORDS)

Filament lattice of frog striated muscle. Radial forces, lattice stability, and filament compression in the A-band of relaxed and rigor muscle

Repulsive pressure in the A-band filament lattice of relaxed frog skeletal muscle has been measured as a function of interfilament spacing using an osmotic shrinking technique. Much improved chemical skinning was obtained when the muscles were equilibrated in the presence of EGTA before skinning. The lattice shrank with increasing external osmotic pressure. At any specific pressure, the lattice spacing in relaxed muscle was smaller than that of muscle in rigor, except at low pressures where the reverse was found. The lattice spacing was the same in the two states at a spacing close to that found in vivo. The data were consistent with an electrostatic repulsion over most of the pressure range. For relaxed muscle, the data lay close to electrostatic pressure curves for a thick filament charge diameter of approximately 26 nm, suggesting that charges stabilizing the lattice are situated about midway along the thick filament projections (HMM-S1). At low pressures, observed spacings were larger than calculated, consistent with the idea that thick filament projections move away from the filament backbone. Under all conditions studied, relaxed and rigor, at short and very long sarcomere lengths, the filament lattice could be modeled by assuming a repulsive electrostatic pressure, a weak attractive pressure, and a radial stiffness of the thick filaments (projections) that differed between relaxed and rigor conditions. Each thick filament projection could be compressed by approximately 5 or 2.6 nm requiring a force of 1.3 or 80 pN for relaxed and rigor conditions respectively.

Passive interaction between sliding filaments in the osmotically compressed skinned muscle fibers of the frog

Shortening and lengthening velocities, instantaneous stiffness, and tension transients after stretch were measured in compressed muscle fibers from the frog in the presence or absence of polyvinylpyrrolidone (PVP K30) or Dextran T70. Both shortening and lengthening velocities clearly decreased with the concentration of polymer. In the presence of polymer, "passive" stiffness was observed in relaxing solution depending on fiber diameter, and stiffness increased further by activation. This increase by activation above "passive" stiffness was nearly constant in the wide range of polymer concentrations. These active and "passive" stiffnesses were found to be dependent on sarcomere length. The stiffness of a compressed rigor fiber was indicated to be composed of constant rigor stiffness and a variable "passive" one. The tension transient after stretch in a compressed active or rigor fiber was also indicated to be composed of two kinds of transients. The above results suggest that (a) there exist two kinds of interactions in parallel in a compressed active or rigor fiber: one active or rigor and another "passive" between sliding filaments, and (b) the decrease in shortening velocity in a compressed fiber may be brought about by this "passive" interaction.

Factors influencing the ascending limb of the sarcomere length-tension relationship in rabbit skinned muscle fibres

1. The length dependence of Ca2+-activated tension within the ascending limb of the length-tension relationship, corresponding to sarcomere lengths below about 2.25 micron, was investigated in skinned fibres from rabbit psoas muscle. At high [Ca2+] a shallow phase and then a steep phase of tension decline were observed as sarcomere length was reduced, while at low [Ca2+] tension decreased monotonically with decreases in sarcomere length. The sarcomere length at which the ascending limb intersected zero tension was greater for lower concentrations of Ca2+. 2. The length tension relationship from maximally activated fibres changed when filament lattice spacing was reduced by osmotic compression. Relationships obtained in the presence of 5% (w/v) dextran T500 more distinctly demonstrated both the shallow and steep portions of the ascending limb than did relationships from untreated fibres. 3. As striation spacing was decreased a progressive decline in the Ca2+ sensitivity of tension development was observed. Tension-pCa relationships from both control and dextran-treated fibres underwent a rightward shift (i.e. to a higher [Ca2+]) by 0.23 pCa units as sarcomere length was reduced between 2.46 and 1.54 microns. 4. Fibre stiffness was studied by applying a 3.3 kHz sinusoidal length change at one end of the fibre and measuring the resultant tension change. At submaximal activation (pCa 5.8), stiffness increased relative to tension as sarcomere length was decreased below approximately 2.4 microns, suggesting that there is an activation-related internal load at low [Ca2+]. At maximal activation, a significant increase in this ratio occurred only at sarcomere lengths less than approximately 1.8 microns, and presumably involved collision of the thick filaments with the Z-lines. 5. Length-dependent changes in the Ca2+ sensitivity of tension development do not appear to be the result of shortening-induced dissociation of Ca2+ from troponin-C, the Ca2+ binding subunit of troponin. Fibres activated in the absence of Ca2+, by the partial removal of whole troponin complexes, produced length-tension relationships similar to those observed in the same fibres before troponin removal at a submaximal [Ca2+] yielding similar active tensions.

Shortening velocity in skinned single muscle fibers. Influence of filament lattice spacing

In this study maximum shortening velocity (Vmax) and isometric tension (P0) in skinned single fibers from rat slow soleus (SOL) and fast superficial vastus lateralis (SVL) muscles were examined after varying degrees of filament lattice compression with dextran. In both fiber types Vmax was greatest in the absence of dextran and decreased as the concentration of dextran was increased between 2.5 and 10 g/100 ml. At 10% dextran, which compressed fiber width by 31-38%, Vmax relative to the initial 0% dextran value was 0.28 +/- 0.03 (mean +/- SE) and 0.26 +/- 0.02 in SVL and SOL fibers, respectively. The effect of compression to depress Vmax was reversed completely by returning the fiber to 0% dextran. The force-generating capability of skinned fibers was not as sensitive to variations in cell width. In both the SOL and SVL fibers P0 increased by 3-7% when the concentration of dextran was increased from 0 to 5%. Further compression of lattice volume with 10% dextran resulted in a 8-13% decline in P0 relative to the initial value. While the precise mechanism by which filament lattice spacing modulates contractile function is not known, our results suggest that the major effect is upon the rate constant for cross-bridge detachment.

Force-velocity relation and rate of ATP hydrolysis in osmotically compressed skinned smooth muscle of the guinea pig

Chemically skinned guinea pig taenia coli fibre bundles showed a concentration-dependent decrease in width when incubated in media containing Dextran T500 (0-0.2 g ml-1). The maximal reduction in width, observed at 0.2 g ml-1 dextran, was 32%. The effect was reversible upon removal of dextran. Isometric force was slightly increased (about 10%) at the lowest dextran concentration (0.025 g ml-1) but decreased at higher concentrations (40% decrease at 0.2 g/ml-1). The energetic tension cost (ATP turnover/force) was decreased by about 40% after dextran addition. Force development and relaxation were markedly slower in 0.1 g ml-1 and absent in 0.2 g ml-1 dextran. In isotonic quick-release experiments 0.025 g ml-1 dextran did not influence maximal shortening velocity (Vmax) and relative stiffness, whereas 0.1 g ml-1 markedly increased stiffness and decreased Vmax to about 27%. Vanadate induced relaxation in the activated muscle (pCa 4.5) both in the absence and presence (0.1 g ml-1) of dextran and increased the rate of relaxation (pCa 9) at 0.1 g ml-1 dextran. The isometric rate of crossbridge turnover, as reflected by the energetic tension cost and the rate of relaxation, was decreased at all degrees of osmotic compression. Crossbridge turnover rate during shortening (Vmax) was unaffected at an osmotic compression of 12% (width) but was decreased at higher compression (32%).

Active force as a function of filament spacing in crayfish skinned muscle fibers

Filament spacing is shown to have a pronounced effect on active force in skinned striated muscle fibers of crayfish. At constant filament overlap and constant ionic strength, the separation between the myofilaments (measured by low-angle X-ray diffraction) was adjusted by application of osmotic pressure. Force was induced by a calcium-containing activating solution. In the absence of compression, calcium-activated force in skinned fibers was approximately 80% of that in normal intact fibers. In fibers compressed somewhat beyond the dimension of intact fibers, force was maximal. With further compression, force was reduced and then abolished. The filament spacing-force relation reported here suggests that, at any instant, the distance between the myosin filaments and actin filaments affects either the axial force per cross bridge or, more likely, the number of cross bridges in the force-generating state.

Kinetics of force redevelopment in isolated intact frog fibers in solutions of varied osmolarity

Isolated intact frog muscle fibers, while shortening with the intrinsic maximal speed, were stretched back to the original length to measure the kinetics of force redevelopment. These kinetics give information on the attachment rate constant in the cross-bridge cycle in vivo, and a value of approximately 25.6 s-1 (0 degree C) is found in the present study. We find that these kinetics were slightly less sensitive to temperature than was the unloaded shortening speed. The effect of hyperosmolarity on force redevelopment was also measured in solutions with added sucrose or KCl. The rate constant was nearly halved with 120 mM sucrose, but there was practically no effect with isosmotic (60 mM) KCl. These results indicate that the rate constant of force redevelopment is insensitive to raised intracellular ionic strength. In sucrose, the fiber width was also compressed, and the attenuation of the rate constant of force redevelopment in this case is consequently attributed to the decrease in interfilament space. The order of magnitude of the rate constant found in this study suggests that tension transduction by a cross-bridge, during each turnover cycle, requires a series of elementary steps following the attachment.