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Related Experiment Videos

Power output by an asynchronous flight muscle from a beetle.

R K Josephson1, J G Malamud, D R Stokes

  • 1School of Biological Sciences, University of California, Irvine, CA 92697, USA. rkjoseph@uci.edu

The Journal of Experimental Biology
|August 10, 2000
PubMed
Summary
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Beetle flight muscles generate significant power through asynchronous contractions, optimizing work output via specific strain, frequency, and temperature. This allows for higher power compared to synchronous muscles.

Area of Science:

  • Insect physiology
  • Biomechanics
  • Muscle function

Background:

  • The basalar muscle of the beetle Cotinus mutabilis is a key fibrillar flight muscle, comprising a substantial portion of flight power muscles.
  • This asynchronous muscle exhibits unique characteristics, including high passive tension and long twitch duration, differentiating it from synchronous muscles.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate the mechanical power output of the basalar muscle under varying conditions.
  • To determine the optimal parameters for work output, including strain, frequency, muscle length, and temperature.
  • To compare the power output of asynchronous flight muscles with synchronous ones.

Main Methods:

  • Utilized the work-loop technique to measure mechanical power output during imposed sinusoidal strain.

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  • Varied parameters such as strain amplitude, strain frequency, muscle length, muscle temperature, and stimulation frequency.
  • Measured action potential and wing-stroke frequencies during tethered flight.

    • Main Results:

    • Optimal work per cycle occurred at approximately 5% strain and 50 Hz cycle frequency.
    • Optimal mechanical power output was achieved at 60-80 Hz, with optimal strain decreasing and increasing with cycle frequency and temperature, respectively.
    • Power output increased with stimulation frequency up to a plateau around 100 Hz at 35°C.
    • Optimal muscle length for work output was shorter than that for maximal twitch/tetanic tension.
    • Mechanical power output during flight conditions averaged 127 W kg(-1)muscle, reaching up to 200 W kg(-1)muscle.

    Conclusions:

    • Asynchronous beetle flight muscles achieve high power output, approximately double that of synchronous muscles.
    • The findings support the evolutionary advantage of asynchronous muscle operation for high-frequency flight in insects.
    • Temperature plays a critical role, with an optimum for work output due to balancing shortening velocity and activation/deactivation dynamics.