title: Growth-related change in specific force but not in specific power of rat fast skeletal muscle.
abstract: The effect of growth on the dynamic performance of rat medial gastrocnemius muscle was studied. From approximately 1.5 to 5 months of age specific force increased by 18%. Reductions were found in both optimal stimulation frequency (from 120 to 100 Hz) and optimal shortening velocity (by 16%) indicating that the fibres became slower. Specific power did not change during growth but was obtained at a lower shortening velocity. Possible mechanisms for the observed changes are discussed.
authors.affiliation: Department of Muscle and Exercise Physiology, Faculty of Human Movement Sciences, Vrije Universiteit, Amsterdam, The Netherlands.
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: de Haan
authors.forename: C J
authors.initials: CJ
authors.lastname: de Ruiter
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Lind
authors.forename: A J
authors.initials: AJ
authors.lastname: Sargeant
mesh_terms: D000375:Aging / Q000502:physiology*; D000818:Animals; D007537:Isometric Contraction / Q000502:physiology*; D008297:Male; D009119:Muscle Contraction / Q000502:physiology; D024510:Muscle Development; D009132:Muscles / Q000502:physiology*; D051381:Rats; D011919:Rats, Inbred Strains