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Charles J, Kissane R, Hoehfurtner T, Bates KT. From fibre to function: are we accurately representing muscle architecture and performance? Biol Rev Camb Philos Soc 2022; 97:1640-1676. [PMID: 35388613 PMCID: PMC9540431 DOI: 10.1111/brv.12856] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/08/2021] [Revised: 03/22/2022] [Accepted: 03/25/2022] [Indexed: 12/11/2022]
Abstract
The size and arrangement of fibres play a determinate role in the kinetic and energetic performance of muscles. Extrapolations between fibre architecture and performance underpin our understanding of how muscles function and how they are adapted to power specific motions within and across species. Here we provide a synopsis of how this 'fibre to function' paradigm has been applied to understand muscle design, performance and adaptation in animals. Our review highlights the widespread application of the fibre to function paradigm across a diverse breadth of biological disciplines but also reveals a potential and highly prevalent limitation running through past studies. Specifically, we find that quantification of muscle architectural properties is almost universally based on an extremely small number of fibre measurements. Despite the volume of research into muscle properties, across a diverse breadth of research disciplines, the fundamental assumption that a small proportion of fibre measurements can accurately represent the architectural properties of a muscle has never been quantitatively tested. Subsequently, we use a combination of medical imaging, statistical analysis, and physics-based computer simulation to address this issue for the first time. By combining diffusion tensor imaging (DTI) and deterministic fibre tractography we generated a large number of fibre measurements (>3000) rapidly for individual human lower limb muscles. Through statistical subsampling simulations of these measurements, we demonstrate that analysing a small number of fibres (n < 25) typically used in previous studies may lead to extremely large errors in the characterisation of overall muscle architectural properties such as mean fibre length and physiological cross-sectional area. Through dynamic musculoskeletal simulations of human walking and jumping, we demonstrate that recovered errors in fibre architecture characterisation have significant implications for quantitative predictions of in-vivo dynamics and muscle fibre function within a species. Furthermore, by applying data-subsampling simulations to comparisons of muscle function in humans and chimpanzees, we demonstrate that error magnitudes significantly impact both qualitative and quantitative assessment of muscle specialisation, potentially generating highly erroneous conclusions about the absolute and relative adaption of muscles across species and evolutionary transitions. Our findings have profound implications for how a broad diversity of research fields quantify muscle architecture and interpret muscle function.
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Affiliation(s)
- James Charles
- Structure and Motion Lab, Comparative Biomedical Sciences, Royal Veterinary College, Hawkshead Lane, Hatfield, Hertfordshire, AL9 7TA, U.K.,Department of Musculoskeletal & Ageing Science, Institute of Life Course & Medical Sciences, University of Liverpool, The William Henry Duncan Building, 6 West Derby Street, Liverpool, L7 8TX, U.K
| | - Roger Kissane
- Department of Musculoskeletal & Ageing Science, Institute of Life Course & Medical Sciences, University of Liverpool, The William Henry Duncan Building, 6 West Derby Street, Liverpool, L7 8TX, U.K
| | - Tatjana Hoehfurtner
- School of Life Sciences, University of Lincoln, Joseph Banks Laboratories, Green Lane, Lincoln, LN6 7DL, U.K
| | - Karl T Bates
- Department of Musculoskeletal & Ageing Science, Institute of Life Course & Medical Sciences, University of Liverpool, The William Henry Duncan Building, 6 West Derby Street, Liverpool, L7 8TX, U.K
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Collings AJ, Eberhard EA, Basu C, Richards CT. Functional Analysis of Anuran Pelvic and Thigh Anatomy Using Musculoskeletal Modelling of Phlyctimantis maculatus. Front Bioeng Biotechnol 2022; 10:806174. [PMID: 35433659 PMCID: PMC9011185 DOI: 10.3389/fbioe.2022.806174] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/31/2021] [Accepted: 03/08/2022] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Using their abundant musculature, frogs are able to exhibit outstanding behavioural versatility. However, understanding the dynamic motion of their 30 + hindlimb muscles, with multi-joint action, and curved pathways, is challenging. This is particularly true in walking, a relatively understudied, but complex frog gait. Building on prior musculoskeletal modelling work we construct and analyse a 3D musculoskeletal model of the spine, pelvis, and hindlimb of Phlyctimantis maculatus (previously known as Kassina maculata) to simulate the natural motion of muscle pathways as joints rotate during locomotion. Combining experimental kinematics and DICE-CT scan data we use several simulations conducted in MuJoCo to decouple femur and pelvic motions, generating new insights into the functional mechanics of walking in frogs. Outputs demonstrate pelvic lateral rotation about the iliosacral joint influences moment arm magnitude in the majority of hindlimb muscles. The extent of pelvic influence depends on femoral angle which changes muscle function in some instances. The workflow presented here can be used to help experimentalists predict which muscles to probe with in vivo techniques towards a better understanding of how anuran musculoskeletal mechanics enable multiple behaviours.
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Affiliation(s)
- A. J. Collings
- School of Health and Life Sciences, Teesside University, Middlesbrough, United Kingdom
- Structure and Motion Laboratory, Royal Veterinary College, Hatfield, United Kingdom
- *Correspondence: A. J. Collings,
| | - E. A. Eberhard
- Structure and Motion Laboratory, Royal Veterinary College, Hatfield, United Kingdom
- Swiss Federal Institute of Technology Lausanne, Lausanne, Switzerland
| | - C. Basu
- Structure and Motion Laboratory, Royal Veterinary College, Hatfield, United Kingdom
- School of Veterinary Medicine, University of Surrey, Guildford, United Kingdom
| | - C. T. Richards
- Structure and Motion Laboratory, Royal Veterinary College, Hatfield, United Kingdom
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Sahd L, Bennett NC, Kotzé SH. Hind foot drumming: Volumetric micro-computed tomography investigation of the hind limb musculature of three African mole-rat species (Bathyergidae). J Anat 2022; 240:23-33. [PMID: 34374084 PMCID: PMC8655198 DOI: 10.1111/joa.13534] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/30/2021] [Revised: 07/26/2021] [Accepted: 07/28/2021] [Indexed: 11/28/2022] Open
Abstract
Several species of African mole-rats use seismic signalling by means of hind foot drumming for communication. The present study aimed to create three-dimensional reconstructions and compare volumetric measurements of 27 muscles of the hind limb of two drumming (Georychus capensis and Bathyergus suillus) and one non-drumming (Cryptomys hottentotus natalensis) species of African mole-rats. Diffusible iodine contrast-enhanced micro-computed tomography (diceCT) scans were performed on six specimens per species. Manual segmentation of the scans using VGMAX Studio imaging software allowed for individual muscles to be separated while automatically determining the volume of each muscle. The volume of the individual muscles was expressed as a percentage of the total hind limb volume and statistically compared between species. Subsequently, three-dimensional reconstructions of these muscles were created. Musculus gracilis anticus had a significantly larger percentage of the total hind limb muscle volume in both drumming species compared to the non-drumming C. h. natalensis. Furthermore, several hip and knee extensors, namely mm. gluteus superficialis, semimembranosus, gluteofemoralis, rectus femoris and vastus lateralis, had significantly larger muscle volume percentages in the two drumming species (G. capensis and B. suillus) compared to the non-drumming species. While not statistically significant, G. capensis had larger muscle volume percentages in several key hip and knee extensors compared to B. suillus. Additionally, G capensis had the largest summed percentage of the total hind limb volume in the hip flexor, hip extensor, knee extensor and ankle plantar flexor muscle groups in all the three species. This could be indicative of whole muscle hypertrophy in these muscles due to fast eccentric contractions that occur during hind foot drumming. However, significantly larger muscle volume percentages were observed in the scratch digging B. suillus compared to the other two chisel tooth digging species. Moreover, while not statistically significant, B. suillus had larger muscle volume percentages in several hip extensor and knee flexor muscles compared to G. capensis (except for m. vastus lateralis). These differences could be due to the large relative size of this species but could also be influenced by the scratch digging strategy employed by B. suillus. Therefore, while the action of hind foot drumming seems to influence certain key muscle volumes, digging strategy and body size may also play a role.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lauren Sahd
- Division of Clinical AnatomyDepartment of Biomedical SciencesFaculty of Medicine and Health SciencesStellenbosch UniversityCape TownSouth Africa
| | - Nigel C. Bennett
- Department of Zoology and EntomologyMammal Research InstituteUniversity of PretoriaPretoriaSouth Africa
| | - Sanet H. Kotzé
- Division of Clinical AnatomyDepartment of Biomedical SciencesFaculty of Medicine and Health SciencesStellenbosch UniversityCape TownSouth Africa
- Department of Biomedical SciencesRoss University School of Veterinary MedicineBasseterreSt Kitts and Nevis
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Kunisch S, Blüml V, Schwaha T, Beisser CJ, Handschuh S, Lemell P. Digital dissection of the head of the frogs Calyptocephalella gayi and Leptodactylus pentadactylus with emphasis on the feeding apparatus. J Anat 2021; 239:391-404. [PMID: 33713453 PMCID: PMC8273601 DOI: 10.1111/joa.13426] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/25/2020] [Revised: 02/21/2021] [Accepted: 02/22/2021] [Indexed: 11/26/2022] Open
Abstract
Micro‐computed tomography (microCT) of small animals has led to a more detailed and more accurate three‐dimensional (3D) view on different anatomical structures in the last years. Here, we present the cranial anatomy of two frog species providing descriptions of bone structures and soft tissues of the feeding apparatus with comments to possible relations to habitat and feeding ecology. Calyptocephalella gayi, known for its aquatic lifestyle, is not restricted to aquatic feeding but also feeds terrestrially using lingual prehension. This called for a detailed investigation of the morphology of its feeding apparatus and a comparison to a fully terrestrial species that is known to feed by lingual prehension such as Leptodactylus pentadactylus. These two frog species are of similar size, feed on similar diet but within different main habitats. MicroCT scans of both species were conducted in order to reconstruct the complete anatomical condition of the whole feeding apparatus for the first time. Differences in this regard are evident in the tongue musculature, which in L. pentadactylus is more massively built and with a broader interdigitating area of the two main muscles, the protractor musculus genioglossus and the retractor musculus hyoglossus. In contrast, the hyoid retractor (m. sternohyoideus) is more massive in the aquatic species C. gayi. Moreover, due to the different skull morphology, the origins of two of the five musculi adductores vary between the species. This study brings new insights into the relation of the anatomy of the feeding apparatus to the preferred feeding method via 3D imaging techniques. Contrary to the terrestrially feeding L. pentadactylus, the skeletal and muscular adaptations of the aquatic species C. gayi provide a clear picture of necessities prescribed by the habitat. Nevertheless, by keeping a certain amount of flexibility of the design of its feeding apparatus, C. gayi is able to employ various methods of feeding.
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Affiliation(s)
- Stephanie Kunisch
- Department of Evolutionary Biology, Faculty of Life Sciences, University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria
| | - Valentin Blüml
- Department of Evolutionary Biology, Faculty of Life Sciences, University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria
| | - Thomas Schwaha
- Department of Evolutionary Biology, Faculty of Life Sciences, University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria
| | - Christian Josef Beisser
- Department of Evolutionary Biology, Faculty of Life Sciences, University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria
| | | | - Patrick Lemell
- Department of Evolutionary Biology, Faculty of Life Sciences, University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria
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Tong W, Li J, Feng X, Wang C, Xu Y, He C, Xu W. Kaiso regulates osteoblast differentiation and mineralization via the Itga10/PI3K/AKT signaling pathway. Int J Mol Med 2021; 47:41. [PMID: 33576467 PMCID: PMC7891822 DOI: 10.3892/ijmm.2021.4874] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/19/2020] [Accepted: 10/30/2020] [Indexed: 01/31/2023] Open
Abstract
Bone homeostasis is maintained by a dynamic balance between bone formation and bone resorption. The cellular activities of osteoblasts and osteoclasts are the primary factors that maintain this dynamic balance. The transcription factor Kaiso has been identified as a regulator of cell proliferation and differentiation in various cells. However, research into its role in bone homeostasis is currently lacking. In the present study, cell and animal experiments were conducted to investigate the role of Kaiso in bone homeostasis. The present study identified that Kaiso was downregulated during osteoblast differentiation in MC3T3-E1 cells. Gain- and loss-of-function studies in MC3T3-E1 cells demonstrated that Kaiso served a critical role in osteoblast differentiation in vitro. The findings were further confirmed in vivo. The results of the sequence analysis indicated that Kaiso influenced osteoblast differentiation and mineralization by regulating the PI3K/AKT signaling pathway. Moreover, integrin subunit α10 (Itga10) was identified as a direct target of Kaiso via chromatin immunoprecipitation and luciferase reporter assays. Collectively, these findings suggested that Kaiso regulated the differentiation of osteoblasts via the Itga10/PI3K/AKT pathway, which represents a therapeutic target for bone formation or bone resorption-related diseases.
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Affiliation(s)
- Wenwen Tong
- Department of Joint Bone Disease Surgery, Changhai Hospital, Second Military Medical University, Shanghai 200433, P.R. China
| | - Jia Li
- Department of Joint Bone Disease Surgery, Changhai Hospital, Second Military Medical University, Shanghai 200433, P.R. China
| | - Xinzhe Feng
- Department of Joint Bone Disease Surgery, Changhai Hospital, Second Military Medical University, Shanghai 200433, P.R. China
| | - Chen Wang
- Department of Joint Bone Disease Surgery, Changhai Hospital, Second Military Medical University, Shanghai 200433, P.R. China
| | - Yihong Xu
- Department of Joint Bone Disease Surgery, Changhai Hospital, Second Military Medical University, Shanghai 200433, P.R. China
| | - Chongru He
- Department of Joint Bone Disease Surgery, Changhai Hospital, Second Military Medical University, Shanghai 200433, P.R. China
| | - Weidong Xu
- Department of Joint Bone Disease Surgery, Changhai Hospital, Second Military Medical University, Shanghai 200433, P.R. China
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Fidalgo G, Paiva K, Mendes G, Barcellos R, Colaço G, Sena G, Pickler A, Mota CL, Tromba G, Nogueira LP, Braz D, Silva HR, Colaço MV, Barroso RC. Synchrotron microtomography applied to the volumetric analysis of internal structures of Thoropa miliaris tadpoles. Sci Rep 2020; 10:18934. [PMID: 33144603 PMCID: PMC7641268 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-020-75993-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/05/2020] [Accepted: 10/22/2020] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
Amphibians are models for studying applied ecological issues such as habitat loss, pollution, disease, and global climate change due to their sensitivity and vulnerability to changes in the environment. Developmental series of amphibians are informative about their biology, and X-ray based 3D reconstruction holds promise for quantifying morphological changes during growth—some with a direct impact on the possibility of an experimental investigation on several of the ecological topics listed above. However, 3D resolution and discrimination of their soft tissues have been difficult with traditional X-ray computed tomography, without time-consuming contrast staining. Tomographic data were initially performed (pre-processing and reconstruction) using the open-source software tool SYRMEP Tomo Project. Data processing and analysis of the reconstructed tomography volumes were conducted using the segmentation semi-automatic settings of the software Avizo Fire 8, which provide information about each investigated tissues, organs or bone elements. Hence, volumetric analyses were carried out to quantify the development of structures in different tadpole developmental stages. Our work shows that synchrotron X-ray microtomography using phase-contrast mode resolves the edges of the internal tissues (as well as overall tadpole morphology), facilitating the segmentation of the investigated tissues. Reconstruction algorithms and segmentation software played an important role in the qualitative and quantitative analysis of each target structure of the Thoropa miliaris tadpole at different stages of development, providing information on volume, shape and length. The use of the synchrotron X-ray microtomography setup of the SYRMEP beamline of Elettra Synchrotron, in phase-contrast mode, allows access to volumetric data for bone formation, eye development, nervous system and notochordal changes during the development (ontogeny) of tadpoles of a cycloramphid frog Thoropa miliaris. As key elements in the normal development of these and any other frog tadpole, the application of such a comparative ontogenetic study, may hold interest to researchers in experimental and environmental disciplines.
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Affiliation(s)
- G Fidalgo
- Laboratory of Applied Physics to Biomedical Science, State University of Rio de Janeiro, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.
| | - K Paiva
- Laboratory of Applied Physics to Biomedical Science, State University of Rio de Janeiro, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
| | - G Mendes
- Laboratory of Applied Physics to Biomedical Science, State University of Rio de Janeiro, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
| | - R Barcellos
- Laboratory of Applied Physics to Biomedical Science, State University of Rio de Janeiro, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
| | - G Colaço
- Laboratory of Herpetology, Federal Rural University of Rio de Janeiro, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
| | - G Sena
- Laboratory of Applied Physics to Biomedical Science, State University of Rio de Janeiro, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
| | - A Pickler
- Laboratory of Applied Physics to Biomedical Science, State University of Rio de Janeiro, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
| | - C L Mota
- Laboratory of Applied Physics to Biomedical Science, State University of Rio de Janeiro, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
| | - G Tromba
- Elettra/Sincrotrone Trieste S.C.P.a., Trieste, Italy
| | - L P Nogueira
- Oral Research Laboratory, Institute of Clinical Dentistry, University of Oslo, Oslo, Norway
| | - D Braz
- Nuclear Engineering Program/COPPE, Federal University of Rio de Janeiro, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
| | - H R Silva
- Laboratory of Herpetology, Federal Rural University of Rio de Janeiro, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
| | - M V Colaço
- Laboratory of Applied Physics to Biomedical Science, State University of Rio de Janeiro, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
| | - R C Barroso
- Laboratory of Applied Physics to Biomedical Science, State University of Rio de Janeiro, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
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Richards CT. Energy Flow in Multibody Limb Models: A Case Study in Frogs. Integr Comp Biol 2020; 59:1559-1572. [PMID: 31518393 DOI: 10.1093/icb/icz142] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/15/2023] Open
Abstract
A frog jump is both simple and difficult to comprehend. The center-of-mass (COM) follows a two-dimensional (2D) path; it accelerates diagonally upward, then traces a predictable arc in flight. Despite this simplicity, the leg segments trace intricate trajectories to drive the COM both upwards and forwards. Because the frog sits crouched with sprawled legs, segments must pivot, tilt, and twist; they solve a long-recognized problem of converting non-linear 3D motion of the leg segments to linear 2D motion of the COM. I use mathematical approaches borrowed from robotics to address: How do frogs manipulate the flow of kinetic energy through their body to influence jump trajectory? I address (1) transfer of motion through kinematic transmission and (2) transfer of motion through dynamic coupling of segment mass-inertia properties. Using a multi-body simulation, I explore how segment acceleration induces rotations at neighboring segments (even without accounting for bi-articular muscles). During jumps, this inertial coupling mechanism is likely crucial for modulating the direction of travel. The frog case study highlights a useful computational framework for studying how limb joints produce coordinated motion.
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Affiliation(s)
- Christopher T Richards
- Department of Comparative Biomedical Sciences, The Royal Veterinary College, 4 Royal College Street, London, UK
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