Muscle Contractile Apparatus Research Articles

Glucose 6-phosphate alters rat skeletal muscle contractile apparatus and sarcoplasmic reticulum function.

We investigated the effects of glucose 6-phosphate (G6P) on skeletal muscle contractile apparatus and sarcoplasmic reticulum (SR) function. Using rat extensor digitorum longus fibres, the presence of 5 mM G6P decreased the Ca2+ sensitivity of both force production and actomyosin ATPase (AM-ATPase) activity. Conversely, maximal Ca(2+)-activated force was unaffected while maximal AM-ATPase activity was increased by 37%. In SR vesicles isolated from rat gastrocnemius, G6P markedly altered Ca2+ handling. It increased Ca(2+)-stimulated Ca(2+)-ATPase activity but depressed the net rate of Ca2+ uptake. This latter effect appears to be due to G6P-stimulated Ca2+ release. When G6P was added to Ca(2+)-loaded vesicles, a small, transient release of Ca2+ was elicited. In addition, G6P lowered the threshold for Ca(2+)-induced Ca2+ release but depressed the net rates of both AgNO3- and caffeine-induced releases. It is possible that the accumulation of G6P during muscular activity may adversely affect muscle force production and contribute to the fatigue process via its action on the contractile apparatus and SR.

Contractile properties of thin (actin) filament-reconstituted muscle fibers.

Selective removal and reconstitution of the components of muscle fibers (fibrils) is a useful means of examining the molecular mechanism underlying the formation of the contractile apparatus. In addition, this approach is powerful for examining the structure-function relationship of a specific component of the contractile system. In previous studies, we have achieved the partial structural and functional reconstitution of thin filaments in the skeletal contractile apparatus and full reconstitution in the cardiac contractile apparatus. First, all thin filaments other than short fragments at the Z line were removed by treatment with plasma gelsolin, an actin filament-severing protein. Under these conditions, no active tension could be generated. By incorporating exogenous actin into these thin filament-free fibers, actin filaments were reconstituted by polymerization on the short actin fragments remaining at the Z line, and active tension, which was insensitive to Ca2+, was restored. The active tension after the reconstitution of thin filaments reached as high as 30% of the original level in skeletal muscle, while it reached 140% in cardiac muscle. The augmentation of tension in cardiac muscle is mainly attributable to the elongation of reconstituted filaments, longer than the average length of thin filaments in an intact muscle. These results indicate that a muscle contractile apparatus with a high order structure and function can be constructed by the self-assembly of constituent proteins. Recently, we applied this reconstitution system to the study of the mechanism of spontaneous oscillatory contraction (SPOC) in thin (actin) filament-reconstituted cardiac muscle fibers. As a result, we found that SPOC occurs even in regulatory protein-free actin filament-reconstituted fibers (Fujita & Ishiwata, manuscript submitted), although the SPOC conditions were slightly different from the standard SPOC conditions. This result strongly suggests that spontaneous oscillation is intrinsic to actomyosin motors. We here summarize the contractile properties of the reconstitution system.

Airway Responsiveness in Two Inbred Strains of Mouse Disparate in IgE and IL-4 Production

The mouse provides an excellent model for genetic studies of asthma, which is characterized by airway hyperexcitability and hyperreactivity. The former is a function of the properties of the membrane of the airway smooth muscle (ASM), whereas the latter is a function, albeit indirectly, of the mechanical properties of the muscle contractile apparatus. The very small size of the muscle has in the past hampered its study. We report herein that contractile properties of tracheal smooth muscle (TSM) can be measured in mice. We examined TSM strips from two inbred strains of mouse, ASW and SJL, which are high and low IgE responders, respectively. Force-velocity relationships were measured in four groups of mice, two ASW (control and sensitized)/and two SJL (control and sensitized). Muscle strips from sensitized SJL mice exhibited shortening velocities (V0) and maximum shortening capacities (deltaLmax), that were significantly greater than those of the other groups. However, no difference was found between the two strains in maximal isometric force (P0). The two strains also showed differences in their potential to express cytokines such as interleukin-4 (IL-4) and IL-5 in ex vivo splenocyte cultures, as measured by the cytokines' messenger RNA (mRNA) and protein expression. The SJL strain, which exhibited TSM hyperreactivity, was found to produce significantly greater amounts of IL-4 than the ASW strain. We conclude that the altered contractile properties of TSM in sensitized SJL mice are independent of IgE response, but linked to increased amounts of IL-4.

Modulation of the calcium sensitivity of the smooth muscle contractile apparatus: molecular mechanisms, pharmacological and pathophysiological implications.

Smooth muscle contraction is the basis of the physiological reactivity of several systems (vascular, respiratory, gastrointestinal, urogenital ...). Hyperresponsiveness of smooth muscle may also contribute to a variety of problems such as arterial hypertension, asthma and spontaneous abortion. An increase in cytoplasmic calcium concentration ([Ca2+]i) is the key event in excitation-contraction coupling in smooth muscle and the relationship linking the [Ca2+]i value to the force of contraction represents the calcium sensitivity of the contractile apparatus (CaSCA). Recently, it has become evident that CaSCA can be modified upon the action of agonists or drugs as well as in some pathophysiological situations. Such modifications induce, at a fixed [Ca2+]i value, either an increase (referred to as sensitization) or a decrease (desensitization) of the contraction force. The molecular mechanisms underlying this modulation are not yet fully elucidated. Nevertheless, recent studies have identified sites of regulation of the actomyosin interaction in smooth muscle. Sensitization primarily results from the inhibition of myosin light chain phosphatase (MLCP) by intracellular messengers such as arachidonic acid or protein kinase C. In addition, phosphorylation of thin filament-associated proteins, caldesmon and calponin, increases CaSCA. Activation of small (monomeric) G-proteins such as rho or ras is also involved. Desensitization occurs as a consequence of phosphorylation of myosin light chain kinase (MLCK) by the calcium-calmodulin activated protein kinase II, or stimulation of MLCP by cyclic GMP-activated protein kinase. In the present review, examples of physiological modulation of CaCSA as well as pharmacological and pathophysiological implications are illustrated for some smooth muscles.

Mechanisms of platelet-induced angiospastic reactions: potentiation of calcium sensitivity

Platelet aggregation and adherence to the vessel lumina are common events in various physiological and pathological conditions. However, the mechanisms whereby aggregating platelets cause vasoconstriction remain unclear. We hypothesized that aggregating platelets may alter the Ca2+ sensitivity of the contractile apparatus in smooth muscle cells. We tested this hypothesis using rabbit common carotid arteries permeabilized with beta-escin. In these preparations, the receptor-effector coupling is functionally intact, while the intracellular ionic composition, in particular calcium concentration, may be clamped. Aggregating platelets in the presence of 100 microM GTP left-shifted the pCa-force curve. On average, the pD2 for calcium was 6.30 +/- 0.05 and 6.86 +/- 0.07 in the absence and presence of platelets, respectively (p < 0.01). This increase in calcium sensitivity was prevented by blockade of G-proteins with guanosine 5'-O-(2-thiodiphosphate). Platelets modulated calcium sensitivity at concentrations markedly lower than those that produce contractions of intact vessels. These data suggest that platelet activation in the vicinity of the vessel wall may sensitize the smooth muscle contractile apparatus to calcium via a G-protein-dependent mechanism. This phenomenon may enhance vessel responses to vasoactive substance that produce vessel contraction via elevation of intracellular calcium concentrations.

Structural and functional reconstitution of thin filaments in the contractile apparatus of cardiac muscle

The muscle contractile apparatus has a highly ordered liquid crystalline structure. The molecular mechanism underlying the formation of this apparatus remains, however, to be elucidated. Selective removal and reconstitution of the components are useful means of examining this mechanism. In addition, this approach is a powerful technique for examining the structure and function of a specific component of the contractile system. In this study we have achieved the structural and functional reconstitution of thin filaments in the cardiac contractile apparatus. First, all thin filaments other than short fragments at the Z line were removed by treatment with gelsolin. Under these conditions no active tension could be generated. By incorporating exogenous actin into these thin filament-free fibers, actin filaments were reconstituted, and active tension, which was insensitive to Ca2+, was restored. The active tension after the reconstitution of thin filaments reached 135 +/- 64% of the original level. The augmentation of tension was attributable to the elongation of reconstituted filaments. As another possibility for augmented tension generation, we suggest the presence of an inhibitory system that was not reconstituted. In any case, the thin filaments of the cardiac contractile apparatus are considered to be assembled so as not to develop the highest degree of tension. Incorporation of the tropomyosin-troponin complex fully restored Ca2+ sensitivity without affecting maximum tension. The present results indicate that a muscle contractile apparatus with a higher order structure and function can be constructed by the self-assembly of constituent proteins.

The Structure of the Contractile Apparatus in Ultrarapidly Frozen Smooth Muscle: Freeze-Fracture, Deep-Etch, and Freeze-Substitution Studies

The structure of the smooth muscle contractile apparatus was studied using ultrarapid freezing followed by freeze substitution or by longitudinal freeze-fracture, deep-etch, and platinum-carbon replication. Freeze substitution minimises the detrimental effects of chemical fixation and freeze fracture eliminates them entirely whilst revealing the ultrastructure in three dimensions. Unidirectionally shadowed freeze-fracture replicas of ultra-rapidly frozen, relaxed, intact smooth muscle showed a well-preserved actin filament structure; the 5.5-nm repeat of the actin subunits was clearly observed. In transversely fractured tissue the thick filaments were revealed, with a distribution comparable to that seen in transverse sections of freeze-substituted muscle. Relaxed muscle permeabilised using Triton X-100 showed a similar structure to that of intact tissue after ultrarapid freezing and examination both by freeze fracture and by freeze substitution; the ratios of actin to myosin were also comparable. In permeabilised, rigorised tissue the structure of the actomyosin complex was revealed in detail; this was especially clear in freeze-substituted muscle. A cross-bridge spacing of 38 nm was measured in freeze-fractured, deep-etched tissue. The structural detail revealed is compatible with a side polar model of the actomyosin interaction and with the sliding filament mechanism of muscle contraction.

Diosmin‐induced increase in sensitivity to Ca2+ of the smooth muscle contractile apparatus in the rat isolated femoral vein

The effect of diosmin, a flavone derivative, on the Ca2+ sensitivity of the venous contractile apparatus was investigated in chemically (beta-escin) skinned strips from the rat isolated femoral vein. Diosmin (0.5-10 microM) shifted to the left the concentration-response curve to Ca2+ (0.05-5 microM). The maximal effect was observed in the presence of 1 microM diosmin which increased the contractile response evoked by 0.15 microM Ca2+ from 26.3% to 78.9% of the maximal Ca(2+)-induced response. This work demonstrates that the venotonic action of diosmin involves an increase in the Ca2+ sensitivity of the contractile apparatus. Such a mechanism of action could represent a new and important means of therapeutic control of vasomotor activity.

Effects of ischemia on sarcoplasmic reticulum and contractile myofilament activity in human myocardium

The effects of global ischemia on the contractile system and on sarcoplasmic reticulum (SR) function were studied by measuring the isometric tension and the SR Ca2+ release activity of chemically skinned cardiac fiber preparations from seven patients undergoing open-heart surgery. Ten minutes of ischemia caused 1) a decrease in the myofilament sensitivity to Ca2+ (expected Ca2+ concentration giving half-maximal tension; from 0.69 +/- 0.04 to 1.38 +/- 0.06 microM, n = 7) and in the cooperativity index (Hill coefficient; from 2.61 +/- 0.45 to 0.92 +/- 0.15, n = 7), 2) a decrease in myosin light chain phosphorylation, and 3) a 300% increase in the threshold caffeine concentration for SR Ca2+ efflux channel activation, with a 30% reduction in the rate of Ca2+ release by caffeine at threshold concentrations and a 23% reduction in the rate of release by 20 mM caffeine. After preincubation with 5 microM trifluoperazine, a calmodulin antagonist, the caffeine threshold of ischemic and control cardiac muscle became comparable. Most changes were reversed by reperfusion, while the caffeine threshold was still two times greater than control. These results indicate that ischemia caused alterations of the cardiac muscle contractile apparatus and the SR that were reversed only after reperfusion.

Nitric oxide does not mediate the attenuated pulmonary vascular reactivity of chronic pneumonia

Chronic Pseudomonas pneumonia is associated with decreased acute hypoxic pulmonary vasoconstriction. However, it is not known whether this is a result of a generalized reduction in contractile responsiveness. We therefore examined the effect of chronic Pseudomonas pneumonia on in vitro pulmonary vascular responsiveness to agonists. We then investigated the role of nitric oxide (NO) in the altered pulmonary vascular contractility. Control rats or rats infected with Pseudomonas (pneumonia) were killed, and small intrapulmonary arteries (100-200 microns effective lumen radius) were removed. In the pneumonia group, arteries were harvested from the pneumonic area of the lung. Vascular responsiveness was assessed in vitro by obtaining cumulative dose-response curves to contractile agonists [phenylephrine (PE), 5-hydroxytryptamine (5-HT), prostaglandin F2 alpha (PGF2 alpha), and KCl]. KCL-induced (voltage-operated) contractions were not significantly depressed in small pulmonary arteries from pneumonic lungs, suggesting that the smooth muscle contractile apparatus in these arteries was preserved. Contractile responses to the three receptor-operated agonists (PE, 5-HT, and PGF2 alpha) were significantly depressed in arteries subserving the pneumonic lobe of infected rats. NG-monomethyl-L-arginine, which blocks the synthesis of NO, caused a shift toward the left in the dose-contraction curves to PE, PGF2 alpha, and 5-HT in vessels from the sterile control lungs, but it had little effect on arteries from the pneumonic lungs. Chronic Pseudomonas pneumonia is associated with depressed pulmonary vascular contractility in vitro, particularly affecting the receptor-mediated contractile responses. Excessive NO release does not contribute to this attenuated vascular contractility.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Analysis of the myogenin promoter reveals an indirect pathway for positive autoregulation mediated by the muscle-specific enhancer factor MEF-2.

Transcriptional cascades that specify cell fate have been well described in invertebrates. In mammalian development, however, gene hierarchies involved in determination of cell lineage are not understood. With the recent cloning of the MyoD family of myogenic regulatory factors, a model system has become available with which to study the dynamics of muscle determination in mammalian development. Myogenin, along with other members of the MyoD gene family, possesses the apparent ability to redirect nonmuscle cells into the myogenic lineage. This ability appears to be due to the direct activation of an array of subordinate or downstream genes which are responsible for formation and function of the muscle contractile apparatus. Myogenin-directed transcription has been shown to occur through interaction with a DNA consensus sequence known as an E box (CANNTG) present in the control regions of numerous downstream genes. In addition to activating the transcription of subordinate genes, members of the MyoD family positively regulate their own expression and cross-activate one another's expression. These autoregulatory interactions have been suggested as a mechanism for induction and maintenance of the myogenic phenotype, but the molecular details of the autoregulatory circuits are undefined. Here we show that the myogenin promoter contains a binding site for the myocyte-specific enhancer-binding factor, MEF-2, which can function as an intermediary of myogenin autoactivation. Since MEF-2 can be induced by myogenin, these results suggest that myogenin and MEF-2 participate in a transcriptional cascade in which MEF-2, once induced by myogenin, acts to amplify and maintain the myogenic phenotype by acting as a positive regulator of myogenin expression.

Analysis of the myogenin promoter reveals an indirect pathway for positive autoregulation mediated by the muscle-specific enhancer factor MEF-2.

Transcriptional cascades that specify cell fate have been well described in invertebrates. In mammalian development, however, gene hierarchies involved in determination of cell lineage are not understood. With the recent cloning of the MyoD family of myogenic regulatory factors, a model system has become available with which to study the dynamics of muscle determination in mammalian development. Myogenin, along with other members of the MyoD gene family, possesses the apparent ability to redirect nonmuscle cells into the myogenic lineage. This ability appears to be due to the direct activation of an array of subordinate or downstream genes which are responsible for formation and function of the muscle contractile apparatus. Myogenin-directed transcription has been shown to occur through interaction with a DNA consensus sequence known as an E box (CANNTG) present in the control regions of numerous downstream genes. In addition to activating the transcription of subordinate genes, members of the MyoD family positively regulate their own expression and cross-activate one another's expression. These autoregulatory interactions have been suggested as a mechanism for induction and maintenance of the myogenic phenotype, but the molecular details of the autoregulatory circuits are undefined. Here we show that the myogenin promoter contains a binding site for the myocyte-specific enhancer-binding factor, MEF-2, which can function as an intermediary of myogenin autoactivation. Since MEF-2 can be induced by myogenin, these results suggest that myogenin and MEF-2 participate in a transcriptional cascade in which MEF-2, once induced by myogenin, acts to amplify and maintain the myogenic phenotype by acting as a positive regulator of myogenin expression.

The fub-1 mutation blocks initial myofibril formation in zebrafish muscle pioneer cells

The earliest muscle in zebrafish arises from iterated sets of two to six cells in each somite, the muscle pioneers (MP). MP develop synchronously in young trunk myotomes adjacent to the notochord, precisely where the horizontal myoseptum will form. They elongate without cell fusion and differentiate hours earlier than surrounding cells, thus providing a simple and accessible system for in vivo study of myogenesis and muscle patterning. Before the MP form definitive myofibrils they assemble long bundles of actin-containing filaments, similar to “stress-fiber-like structures” reported by others. In fub-1 mutants, in which myofibrils are disorganized in all skeletal muscle cells, the MP appear and elongate normally, but ordered actin filament bundles are not seen. This defect could underlie the later myofibrillar ones, consistent with the proposal that actin filament bundles are essential for proper formation of the muscle contractile apparatus.

Precocious appearance of cardiac troponin T pre-mRNAs during early avian embryonic skeletal muscle development in ovo

Cardiac troponin T (cTNT), a component of the muscle contractile apparatus, is transiently expressed in skeletal muscle during avian limb development. While cTNT was first detected immunohistochemically in limb buds undergoing overt myogenic differentiation (Hamburger and Hamilton stage 26, about 5 days in ovo), RNA blot analyses of early, predifferentiated wing buds have revealed the presence of cTNT transcripts in limb buds as early as stage 23 (4 days in ovo). Steady-state cTNT poly(A) RNAs of stage 22 through stage 37 fore- and hindlimbs were compared using both cTNT cDNA and cTNT intron-specific probes. In the predifferentiated state, two incompletely processed RNAs (3.8 and 2.4 kb) were expressed in the absence of the mature cTNT transcript, while a third pre-mRNA (3.5 kb) appeared concomitantly with the mature mRNA as differentiation and development proceeded. In addition, a population of unique cTNT transcripts were expressed in a proximal to distal manner in wing buds which had undergone initial overt myogenic differentiation (stage 26). Some of the cTNT pre-mRNAs observed in premyogenic limbs appeared to accumulate stably in a tissue-specific manner, based on their absence from the cardiac poly(A) RNA population. These results suggest that the appearance of cardiac troponin T mRNA, as well as the polypeptide, may be regulated at multiple levels including RNA processing, stability, and/or translation during early skeletal muscle myogenesis.

Direct inhibition of chicken gizzard smooth muscle contractile apparatus by caffeine

The mechanism of the inhibitory effect of caffeine on smooth muscle contraction was examined using chicken gizzard. Caffeine (0.1-5 mmol/l) inhibited the KCl-induced contraction of the muscle with an IC50 of 1.1 mmol/l. Forskolin (0.01-10 mumol/l) also inhibited KCl-induced contraction. The inhibitory effect of caffeine was potentiated by a low concentration of forskolin (0.3 mumol/l) and the inhibitory effect of forskolin was potentiated by a low concentration of caffeine (0.1 mmol/l). Although caffeine and forskolin increased tissue cyclic AMP levels, caffeine inhibited the KCl-induced contraction more strongly than forskolin at a given cyclic AMP level. Caffeine (1-40 mmol/l) inhibited the contractions induced by 3 mumol/l Ca2+ in Triton X-100-permeabilized muscle. Caffeine (1-40 mmol/l) inhibited the phosphorylation of 20 kDa myosin light chain (MLC) in native actomyosin preparation and the inhibition was enhanced by decreasing the ATP concentration in the reaction medium. Calmodulin (CaM) activity, as monitored by Ca2+/CaM-dependent erythrocyte membrane (Ca2+ + Mg2+)-ATPase, was not affected by 20 mmol/l caffeine. Time-dependent dephosphorylation of MLC upon removal of Ca2+, an indicator of phosphate activity, was not affected by caffeine. Caffeine also inhibited the Ca2(+)-independent contraction in thiophosphorylated permeabilized muscle. These results indicate that caffeine inhibits smooth muscle contraction by a direct inhibition of MLC kinase and actin-myosin interaction. A part of the inhibitory effect may be mediated by cyclic AMP-dependent mechanism(s).

Acute ethanol dosage reduces the synthesis of smooth muscle contractile proteins in the small intestine of the rat.

The effects of an acute dose of ethanol (75 mmol/kg body weight; ip) on protein synthesis were investigated in the small intestine of the rat (n = 6). Control rats (n = 6) were injected with isovolumetric 0.15 mol/l NaCl, ip. After 2.5 h, fractional rates of protein synthesis (defined as the percentage of tissue protein renewed each day by synthesis and RNA efficiencies (defined as the amount of protein synthesised per unit RNA) were measured with a large flooding dose (0.3 Ci/mol; 150 mmol/l; 150 mumol/100 g body weight; iv) of [4(3)H]-phenylalanine. Rats were killed 10 minutes after injection of the isotope and portions of the small intestine were rapidly dissected and frozen. Tissues and plasma were processed for phenylalanine specific radioactivities to obtain fractional rates of protein synthesis or protein synthesis rates relative to RNA. Rates of protein synthesis in mixed tissue proteins fell approximately 15-25% (p ranged from less than 0.005 to greater than 0.05), in response to acute ethanol dosage. The decrease in the synthesis rates of the cytoplasmic protein fraction was similar (p less than 0.025). Proteins extracted from the smooth muscle contractile apparatus, however, showed a greater response to ethanol--that is, 40-50% inhibition in protein synthesis (p less than 0.001). It is therefore possible that the functional disturbances in the ethanol-exposed gut may be because of changes in smooth muscle protein turnover with decreased amounts of contractile apparatus.

Immunolocalization of muscle and nonmuscle isoforms of actin in myogenic cells and adult skeletal muscle.

In vertebrate skeletal muscle, the proliferating myoblasts synthesize nonmuscle isoforms of actin, and the cells begin to express muscle-specific actin isoforms during their myogenic differentiation. To study the distributions of the actin isoforms in myogenic cells and fully differentiated skeletal muscle, we prepared a peptide antibody specific for the skeletal alpha isoform of actin and used this antibody along with an antibody specifically reactive with nonmuscle gamma actin to stain cultured myotubes and adult skeletal myofibrils by double-indirect immunofluorescence. At this level of resolution, no differences in isoform localization were seen: Both muscle and nonmuscle actins were detected in the myotubes and in the striations of mature myofibrils. Myotubes were also double-stained using immunogold electron microscopy, and the isoform distributions were determined quantitatively by counting the two sizes of gold particles that corresponded to labeling with each antibody. A quantitative analysis of immunoreactivity revealed that, although both forms were present in all actin-containing structures, nonmuscle actin was relatively more prevalent along the edges (cortical microfilaments) of the myotubes, whereas the muscle isoform predominated in the interior regions (containing forming myofibrils). Thus, we have found evidence of a heterogeneous distribution of muscle and nonmuscle actin isoforms in differentiating myogenic cells, and we have demonstrated that a nonmuscle actin isoform is a component of the muscle contractile apparatus.

Ba2+ induces contraction in swine carotid artery by mobilizing intracellular Ca2+.

Recent data suggest that Ba2+ activates the smooth muscle contractile apparatus. However, in vitro studies indicate that Ba2+ activates Ca2+ calmodulin-dependent enzymes only at very high concentrations. These observations might suggest that Ba2+ activates the contractile apparatus by a mechanism independent of myosin phosphorylation. We tested this hypothesis using intact and Triton X-100 skinned swine carotid medial strips. In intact tissues, Ba2+ stimulated dose-dependent contractions in the absence of extracellular Ca2+. However, in skinned tissues, Ba2+ induced much lower stress development at concentrations more than three orders of magnitude greater than needed for Ca2+-induced contraction. Ba2+ also failed to maintain stress in skinned tissues previously contracted with 4 microM Ca2+. The Ba2+-induced contraction in intact strips was associated with gradual increases in myosin phosphorylation from a basal level of approximately 5% to a sustained level of 30.0 +/- 0.8%. Partial intracellular calcium depletion with 100 microM histamine, 25 mM caffeine, and 5 mM ethyleneglycol-bis(beta-aminoethyl-ether)-N,N'-tetraacetic acid (EGTA) failed to abolish Ba2+-induced contractions. However, repeated contractions with Ba2+ in the absence of extracellular Ca2+ led to decreases in stress development. These observations suggest that Ba2+ induces stress development by mobilizing intracellular Ca2+ that was not released by histamine and caffeine.

Fatigue of intermittent submaximal voluntary contractions: central and peripheral factors.

Central and peripheral factors were studied in fatigue of submaximal intermittent isometric contractions of the human quadriceps and soleus muscles. Subjects made repeated 6 s, 50% maximal voluntary contractions (MVC) followed by 4 s rest until the limit of endurance (Tlim). Periodically, a fatigue test was performed. This included a brief MVC, either a single shock or 8 pulses at 50 Hz during a rest period and a shock superimposed on a target force voluntary contraction. At Tlim, the MVC force had declined by 50%, usually in parallel with the force from stimulation at 50 Hz. The twitches superimposed on the target forces declined more rapidly, disappearing entirely at Tlim. In similar experiments on adductor pollicis, no reduction of the evoked M wave was seen. The results suggest that, during fatigue of quadriceps and adductor pollicis induced by this protocol, no central fatigue was apparent, but some was seen in soleus. Thus the reduced force-generating capacity could result mainly or entirely from failure of the muscle contractile apparatus.

The role of myosin phosphorylation in the contraction-relaxation cycle of smooth muscle.

Considerable evidence from a variety of experimental procedures indicates that the phosphorylation of myosin is involved in the regulation of contractile activity in smooth muscle. Phosphorylation of the 20,000-dalton myosin light chains is required to initiate crossbridge cycling and this is consistent with the observation that the actin-activated Mg2+ -ATPase activity of myosin is phosphorylation-dependent. In the simplest interpretation of this process it may be proposed that phosphorylation acts as an 'on-off' switch. Clearly this cannot explain the observed complexity of smooth muscle contractile behavior and such may imply either that additional mechanisms are involved or that the role of myosin phosphorylation is not fully appreciated. Recently it has been shown that monomeric smooth muscle myosin can exist in a 'folded' and an 'extended' conformation and that each form is characterized by distinct enzymatic properties. Under appropriate solvent conditions phosphorylation of myosin favors the extended conformation. It is tentatively suggest that this, or an analogous, transition might be involved in the regulation of the smooth muscle contractile apparatus, and this possibility is discussed.