Decrease in stiffness during shortening in calcium activated skinned muscle fibers

Single fibers from frog sartorius or semitendinosus muscle were mechanically skinned and activated in ATP salt solution containing 10 micro M Ca2+ (7 degrees C). After development of an isometric contraction, fibers were released at constant speed (0.03-2.4 s-1). During ramp shortening, stiffness was determined from the slope of the tension-length diagram obtained during superimposed quick stretches. Both force and stiffness decreased, as the ramp shortening proceeded and approached a steady value after about 60 ms. An increase in speed of shortening caused a decrease in fiber tension and stiffness and an increase in the ratio of stiffness to tension, suggesting a decrease in both the number of attached crossbridges and in the average force per crossbridge.