Related Experiment Videos
Growth-related change in specific force but not in specific power of rat fast skeletal muscle
A de Haan1, C J de Ruiter, A Lind
1Department of Muscle and Exercise Physiology, Faculty of Human Movement Sciences, Vrije Universiteit, Amsterdam, The Netherlands.
Experimental Physiology
|May 1, 1992
Abstract:
The effect of growth on the dynamic performance of rat medial gastrocnemius muscle was studied. From approximately 1.5 to 5 months of age specific force increased by 18%. Reductions were found in both optimal stimulation frequency (from 120 to 100 Hz) and optimal shortening velocity (by 16%) indicating that the fibres became slower. Specific power did not change during growth but was obtained at a lower shortening velocity. Possible mechanisms for the observed changes are discussed.