Artifactual averaged ‘twitch tension’ waveforms resulting from synchronized activity: recording from feline diaphragmatic motor units

Abstract

Averaging techniques have been used to measure contractile properties of spontaneously active motor units (MUs). This study examined the potential for artifactual results due to synchronization between the triggering, single-MU action potentials, and activity of other MUs within the muscle. A muscle strip was formed in situ from feline diaphragm. Single MUs were recorded from the strip and from the contralateral diaphragm. The diaphragm including the muscle strip continue to contract rhythmically in this preparation and a high-gain, AC-coupled recording of force was averaged using MUs recorded in either hemidiaphragm to trigger the averager. Twitch-tension waveforms occurred in 42 of 49 cases triggering from spikes of MUs contained within the strip and in 13 of 19 averages triggered from contralateral MUs. The waveforms generated using contralateral MUs as triggers could only arise from synchronization with MUs contained within the diaphragmatic strip. Although twitch waveforms that were generated from external and internal triggers could appear similar qualitatively, contraction times were significantly (P less than 0.05) longer for averages using contralateral MUs. This study demonstrates that synchronization of triggering events is a major source for error in determining mechanical properties of MUs.