title: Temperature dependence of isometric contractions of cat fast and slow skeletal muscles.
abstract: The influence of temperature (range 38-20 degrees C) on the isometric contractions of flexor digitorum longus (fast-twitch) and soleus (slow-twitch) muscles of the cat hind leg was examined in situ and with supramaximal nerve stimulation. The maximum tetanic tension decreased by 5-7% on cooling from 38 to 27 degrees C and by about 17% on further cooling to 20 degrees C. The results were similar between the two muscles. The twitch tension increased by 100% in flexor digitorum longus and decreased by about 40% in soleus when the temperature was lowered from 38 to 20-24 degrees C. The results are compared with those reported for fast- and slow-twitch muscles of the rat.
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001831:Body Temperature; D002415:Cats; D003080:Cold Temperature; D004558:Electric Stimulation; D006614:Hindlimb; D007537:Isometric Contraction; D009119:Muscle Contraction; D009132:Muscles / Q000502:physiology*; D013696:Temperature