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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

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.

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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.