title: Assessment of the Contractile Properties of Permeabilized Skeletal Muscle Fibers.
abstract: Permeabilized individual skeletal muscle fibers offer the opportunity to evaluate contractile behavior in a system that is greatly simplified, yet physiologically relevant. Here we describe the steps required to prepare, permeabilize and preserve small samples of skeletal muscle. We then detail the procedures used to isolate individual fiber segments and attach them to an experimental apparatus for the purpose of controlling activation and measuring force generation. We also describe our technique for estimating the cross-sectional area of fiber segments. The area measurement is necessary for normalizing the absolute force to obtain specific force, a measure of the intrinsic force-generating capability of the contractile system.
authors: Department of Surgery, Section of Plastic Surgery, University of Michigan Medical School, Ann Arbor, MI, USA.|Department of Biomedical Engineering, University of Michigan College of Engineering, Ann Arbor, MI, USA.
authors: Dennis R
authors: DR
authors: Claflin
authors: Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, University of Michigan Medical School, Ann Arbor, MI, USA.
authors: Stuart M
authors: SM
authors: Roche
authors: Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, University of Michigan Medical School, Ann Arbor, MI, USA.|Department of Molecular & Integrative Physiology, University of Michigan Medical School, Ann Arbor, MI, USA.
authors: Jonathan P
authors: JP
authors: Gumucio
authors: Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, University of Michigan Medical School, Ann Arbor, MI, USA.|Department of Molecular & Integrative Physiology, University of Michigan Medical School, Ann Arbor, MI, USA.
authors: Christopher L
authors: CL
authors: Mendias
authors: Department of Biomedical Engineering, University of Michigan College of Engineering, Ann Arbor, MI, USA. svbrooks@umich.edu.|Department of Molecular & Integrative Physiology, University of Michigan Medical School, Ann Arbor, MI, USA. svbrooks@umich.edu.
authors: Susan V
authors: SV
authors: Brooks
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D009119:Muscle Contraction / Q000502:physiology*; D018485:Muscle Fibers, Skeletal / Q000502:physiology*; D053580:Muscle Strength; D018482:Muscle, Skeletal / Q000502:physiology
keywords: Contractility; Cross-sectional area; Isometric force; Muscle physiology; Permeabilized muscle fiber; Single muscle fiber; Skeletal muscle; Specific force