title: A modified force-velocity equation for smooth muscle contraction.
abstract: It has been suggested that in skeletal muscle the force-velocity relationship may not be a simple hyperbolic one, as defined by Hill's equation. To determine whether smooth muscle demonstrated the same properties, quick-release force-velocity curves were obtained from canine tracheal smooth muscle. The results showed that the observed data points for tracheal smooth muscle systematically deviated from a hyperbola. Such deviation occurred at values of force (P) approaching maximum isometric force (Po) for curves elicited by quick release at 2 and 10 s in the course of isometric contractions. Shortening velocities under a given afterload were overestimated at the high-force end (P > 75% Po) by Hill's equation; this implied that a relationship more complex than a simple hyperbola was involved at high loads. We next focused on finding an equation to also fit those directly measured data points that did not conform to a hyperbola. Our rationale in developing the equation was that a plot of the linearized transform of Hill's equation should yield a straight line over the entire range of loads at which velocities were measured. The plot demonstrated that, in the low-load high-velocity portion of the curve, a peak value was reached at 70-80% Po, which decreased as load increased in the high-load low-velocity portion.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)
authors.affiliation: Department of Physiology, Faculty of Medicine, University of Manitoba, Winnipeg, Canada.
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.forename: H
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Jiang
authors.forename: N L
authors.initials: NL
authors.lastname: Stephens
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D004285:Dogs; D004558:Electric Stimulation; D066298:In Vitro Techniques; D007537:Isometric Contraction / Q000502:physiology; D007700:Kinetics; D008954:Models, Biological; D009119:Muscle Contraction / Q000502:physiology; D009130:Muscle, Smooth / Q000502:physiology*; D014132:Trachea / Q000502:physiology