Abstract
Conventional chemical fixation of muscle fibers is not suited to disclose morphological changes occurring with a time course of only a few msec, e.g.during excitation-contraction-coupling. We have taken advantage of a quick-freeze method to be able to study single intact frog skeletal muscle fibers (r.temporaria) after various time intervals following electrical stimulation. The electronics were designed to permit any time interval from 0 to more than 1 sec between stimulation and impact of the specimen on a liquid He-cooled copper block. It is important to monitor the twitch-response to stimulation. Given the geometry of the freezing device ("Slammer", Polaron), and the fact that the device does not operate vibration-free, it is quite difficult to design and built an effective monitor able to record the actual twitch-response following the stimulation of an isolated single muscle fiber during its descent prior to freezing. We have built a simple device that allows visual observation of the twitch-response within a few seconds prior to the definitive stimulation during the specimen drop.
Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Schedule a callMore From: Proceedings, annual meeting, Electron Microscopy Society of America
Disclaimer: All third-party content on this website/platform is and will remain the property of their respective owners and is provided on "as is" basis without any warranties, express or implied. Use of third-party content does not indicate any affiliation, sponsorship with or endorsement by them. Any references to third-party content is to identify the corresponding services and shall be considered fair use under The CopyrightLaw.
