Selected contribution: Mechanisms underlying increased force generation by rat diaphragm muscle fibers during development

P. C. Geiger, M. J. Cody, R. L. Macken, M. E. Bayrd, Y. H. Fang, G. C. Sieck

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

45 Scopus citations

Abstract

It has been found that maximum specific force (Fmax; force per cross-sectional area) of rat diaphragm muscle doubles from birth to 84 days (adult). We hypothesize that this developmental change in Fmax reflects an increase in myosin heavy chain (MHC) content per half-sarcomere (an estimate of the number of cross bridges in parallel) and/or a greater force per cross bridge in fibers expressing fast MHC isoforms compared with slow and neonatal MHC isoforms (MHCslow and MHCneo, respectively). Single Triton 100-X-permeabilized fibers were activated at a pCa of 4.0. MHC isoform expression was determined by SDS-PAGE. MHC content per half-sarcomere was determined by densitometric analysis and comparison to a standard curve of known MHC concentrations. MHC content per half-sarcomere progressively increased during early postnatal development. When normalized for MHC content per half-sarcomere, fibers expressing MHCslow and coexpressing MHCneo produced less force than fibers expressing fast MHC isoforms. We conclude that lower force per cross bridge in fibers expressing MHCslow and MHCneo contributes to the lower Fmax seen in early postnatal development.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Pages (from-to)380-388
Number of pages9
JournalJournal of applied physiology
Volume90
Issue number1
DOIs
StatePublished - 2001

Keywords

  • Force per cross bridge
  • Maximum specific force
  • Myosin heavy chain content
  • Postnatal development
  • Single fibers

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • Physiology
  • Physiology (medical)

Fingerprint

Dive into the research topics of 'Selected contribution: Mechanisms underlying increased force generation by rat diaphragm muscle fibers during development'. Together they form a unique fingerprint.

Cite this