title: Technique for physiological examination of canine skeletal muscle in vivo.
abstract: A technique is described for studying the physiological function of canine skeletal muscle in vivo. The contractile properties of the tarsal flexor muscles were examined in three beagle dogs under general anaesthesia. The force responses to electrical stimulation of the common peroneal nerve were measured at various frequencies to determine the frequency:force relationship for this muscle group. Fatigue characteristics were also examined during intermittent stimulated activity delivered in a set pattern of frequencies. The results provide quantitative characterisation of muscle function which is repeatable. The technique described could be applied to other animals and is a potentially powerful tool for evaluating the effects of drugs on muscle performance.
authors.affiliation: Muscle Research Centre, Department of Medicine, University of Liverpool.
authors.forename: M J
authors.initials: MJ
authors.lastname: Stokes
authors.forename: S J
authors.initials: SJ
authors.lastname: Newsholme
authors.forename: R G
authors.initials: RG
authors.lastname: Cooper
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Montgomery
authors.forename: R H
authors.initials: RH
authors.lastname: Edwards
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D004285:Dogs / Q000502:physiology*; D004558:Electric Stimulation; D009119:Muscle Contraction; D009126:Muscle Relaxation