Recovery of force during postcontractile depression in single Xenopus muscle fibers.
This study examined the relationship between force and cytosolic free calcium concentration ([Ca2+]c) in different fiber types from Xenopus before, during, and after cells underwent postcontractile depression (PCD). During a standardized fatigue run, force in the two fast fatiguing (FF) fiber types (types 1 and 2, n = 10) fell more quickly (5.8 vs. 8.1 min) and to a greater degree [0.36 vs. 0.51 of initial (P(o))] than in the slow fatiguing (SF) fiber type (type 3, n = 11). After the initial fatigue run, both FF and SF experienced a drop in force to <15% P(o) (PCD) at a similar time (20.6 vs. 21.4 min). A second stimulation period, undertaken during PCD, produced significant recovery of force in both groups, but significantly more so in SF than FF (64 +/- 7 vs. 29 +/- 2% P(o)). This force recovery during PCD was accompanied by a significant increase in peak [Ca2+]c, particularly in SF. However, despite the significant recovery of force during stimulation while in PCD, the amount of force produced for a given peak [Ca2+]c was significantly lower in both groups during PCD than at any other point in the experiment. A final stimulation period, initiated when all fibers had recovered from PCD, demonstrated a recovery of both force and peak [Ca2+]c in both groups, but this recovery was significantly greater in SF vs. FF. These data demonstrate that with continuous electrical stimulation, it is possible to produce a significant recovery of force production during the normally quiescent period of PCD, but that it occurs with a decreased muscle force production for a given peak [Ca2+]c. This suggests that factors other than structural alterations of the sarcoplasmic reticulum are likely the cause of PCD in these fibers.
Howlett
R A
RA
Department of Medicine, University of California, San Diego, La Jolla, California 92093-0623, USA. rhowlett@ucsd.edu
Stary
C M
CM
Hogan
M C
MC
D000818:Animals; D002118:Calcium / Q000502:physiology; D003600:Cytosol / Q000502:physiology; D004558:Electric Stimulation; D005260:Female; D006614:Hindlimb; D066298:In Vitro Techniques; D009119:Muscle Contraction / Q000502:physiology*; D018763:Muscle Fatigue / Q000502:physiology; D018656:Muscle Fibers, Fast-Twitch / Q000502:physiology*; D018657:Muscle Fibers, Slow-Twitch / Q000502:physiology*; D018482:Muscle, Skeletal / Q000502:physiology*; D013314:Stress, Mechanical; D013710:Tendons / Q000502:physiology; D013997:Time Factors; D014982:Xenopus laevis
D002118:Calcium