Functional properties of conditioned skeletal muscle: implications for muscle-powered cardiac assist

Latissimus dorsi (LD) muscles of six canines were studied to assess changes induced by electrical conditioning and to quantify the capacity of these muscles to perform hemodynamic work. Muscles were conditioned using burst stimuli delivered over an 8-wk period. Contralateral LD were used as control. Muscles were tested in situ to simulate anticipated linear-pull cardiac assist conditions. This training process reduced muscle mass and cross-sectional area by 16 and 17%, respectively. Muscle phenotype shifted to a predominantly "slow" form by coordinate reduction of myosin heavy chain (MHC) 2A expression and increased expression of the MHC beta/slow form. Force generation was reduced by 54%, and contractile duration increased 13%. Fatigue resistance was markedly enhanced, and chronic stroke work increased from 0.19 to 0.72 mJ/g. The highest steady-state power output (2.06 mW/g) was obtained from one muscle fully converted to a slow phenotype. These data suggest that single LD trained via conventional techniques can provide energy sufficient for partial cardiac assistance but cannot sustain work levels needed to achieve total circulatory support.