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Thermoelastic effect in chemically skinned frog skeletal muscle in rigor
The Japanese Journal of Physiology
|January 1, 1984
Summary
Thermoelasticity in rigor muscles, studied in frog sartorius, suggests heat-tension origins lie within myofilaments or cross-bridges. This finding holds true even with altered intracellular conditions like calcium presence or pH changes.
Area of Science:
- Muscle Physiology
- Biophysics
- Thermoelasticity
Background:
- Thermoelasticity is a key property of muscle function.
- Understanding its origin in muscle contraction is crucial for elucidating muscle mechanics.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the thermoelastic properties of muscle in a rigor state.
- To determine the source of thermoelastic heat generation in active muscles.
Main Methods:
- Utilized chemically skinned frog sartorius muscles to control intracellular conditions.
- Manipulated the presence of calcium (Ca) and pH levels in the rigor solution.
- Measured thermoelastic heat: tension ratios under varying experimental conditions.
Main Results:
- Thermoelastic heat: tension ratios in rigor muscles were comparable to those in active muscles.
- The observed ratios remained consistent across different intracellular circumstances, including altered Ca and pH levels.
- Cross-bridges are immobilized in the rigor state, preventing head rotation.
Conclusions:
- The thermoelasticity observed in active muscles likely originates from the intrinsic thermoelastic properties of myofilaments or the cross-bridges themselves.
- The study provides evidence that the fundamental thermoelastic behavior is inherent to the muscle's structural components.