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Temperature and muscle.

The Journal of Experimental Biology

|March 1, 1985

Summary

This summary is machine-generated.

Muscle contraction and relaxation speeds are highly temperature-dependent, while maximal force is not. Evolutionary adaptations help cold-adapted species perform better in cooler temperatures.

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Area of Science:

Muscle Physiology
Comparative Physiology
Biomechanics

Background:

Skeletal muscle performance exhibits significant temperature dependence, impacting contraction and relaxation rates.
Maximal force generation shows limited thermal sensitivity, a pattern not fully explained.
Muscle performance acclimation is generally poor, suggesting evolutionary adaptations are key.

Purpose of the Study:

To investigate the functional basis of temperature dependence in vertebrate skeletal muscle.
To understand the thermal dependence of muscle contraction, relaxation, and maximal force.
To explore evolutionary adaptations in muscle performance across different thermal regimes.

Main Methods:

Analysis of Q10 values for muscle contraction and relaxation rates.

Related Experiment Videos

Assessment of thermal dependence of maximal force development.

Comparison of muscle performance in cold-adapted versus warm-adapted species.

Correlation of in vitro muscle thermal dependence with in vivo behavioral performance.

Main Results:

Muscle contraction and relaxation rates show a Q10 of approximately 2, indicating strong temperature dependence.
Maximal force development exhibits low or negative thermal dependence.
Cold-adapted species demonstrate superior mechanical performance at low temperatures compared to warm-adapted ones.
In vivo maximal force generation is temperature-independent, while time-dependent activities are faster at higher temperatures.

Conclusions:

Rate processes in skeletal muscle are fundamentally temperature-dependent, even in ectotherms.
Evolutionary adaptations allow for better muscle function in cold environments for specific species.
In vivo performance reflects a complex interplay between temperature-independent maximal force and temperature-dependent rates.