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Residual force enhancement after stretch in striated muscle. A consequence of increased myofilament overlap?

Edman, Paul LU (2012) In Journal of Physiology 590(6). p.1339-1345
Abstract
When skeletal muscle is stretched above optimal sarcomere length during tetanic activity there is an increase in force that stays above the isometric force level throughout the activity period. This long-lasting increase in contractile force, generally referred to as "residual force enhancement after stretch" (Fresid), has been studied in great detail in various muscle preparations over more than half a century. Substantial evidence has been presented to show that non-uniform sarcomere behavior plays a major part in the development of Fresid. However, in a great number of recent studies the role of sarcomere non-uniformity has been challenged and alternative mechanisms have instead been proposed to explain the increase in force such as... (More)
When skeletal muscle is stretched above optimal sarcomere length during tetanic activity there is an increase in force that stays above the isometric force level throughout the activity period. This long-lasting increase in contractile force, generally referred to as "residual force enhancement after stretch" (Fresid), has been studied in great detail in various muscle preparations over more than half a century. Substantial evidence has been presented to show that non-uniform sarcomere behavior plays a major part in the development of Fresid. However, in a great number of recent studies the role of sarcomere non-uniformity has been challenged and alternative mechanisms have instead been proposed to explain the increase in force such as enhancement of cross-bridge function and/or strengthening of parallel elastic elements along the muscle fibres. This article presents a short review of the salient features of Fresid and provides evidence that non-uniform sarcomere behavior is indeed likely to play a major role in the development of Fresid. Electron microscopical studies of fibres rapidly fixed after active stretch demonstrate that, dispersed in the preparation, there are assymetrical length changes within the two halves of myofibrillar sarcomeres resulting in greater filament overlap in one half of the sarcomere than in the opposite sarcomere half. Sarcomere halves with increased filament overlap will consequently be in a situation where they are able produce a greater force than that recorded in the isometric control. Weaker regions in series will be able to keep the enhanced force by recruitment of elastic elements. (Less)
Please use this url to cite or link to this publication:
author
organization
publishing date
type
Contribution to journal
publication status
published
subject
in
Journal of Physiology
volume
590
issue
6
pages
1339 - 1345
publisher
The Physiological Society
external identifiers
  • wos:000301491300007
  • pmid:22331422
  • scopus:84858254806
ISSN
1469-7793
DOI
10.1113/jphysiol.2011.222729
language
English
LU publication?
yes
id
8c997b00-9f69-4db2-ad7e-e9599ab97ab4 (old id 2366946)
alternative location
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/22331422?dopt=Abstract
date added to LUP
2016-04-04 09:45:11
date last changed
2022-03-15 20:50:36
@article{8c997b00-9f69-4db2-ad7e-e9599ab97ab4,
  abstract     = {{When skeletal muscle is stretched above optimal sarcomere length during tetanic activity there is an increase in force that stays above the isometric force level throughout the activity period. This long-lasting increase in contractile force, generally referred to as "residual force enhancement after stretch" (Fresid), has been studied in great detail in various muscle preparations over more than half a century. Substantial evidence has been presented to show that non-uniform sarcomere behavior plays a major part in the development of Fresid. However, in a great number of recent studies the role of sarcomere non-uniformity has been challenged and alternative mechanisms have instead been proposed to explain the increase in force such as enhancement of cross-bridge function and/or strengthening of parallel elastic elements along the muscle fibres. This article presents a short review of the salient features of Fresid and provides evidence that non-uniform sarcomere behavior is indeed likely to play a major role in the development of Fresid. Electron microscopical studies of fibres rapidly fixed after active stretch demonstrate that, dispersed in the preparation, there are assymetrical length changes within the two halves of myofibrillar sarcomeres resulting in greater filament overlap in one half of the sarcomere than in the opposite sarcomere half. Sarcomere halves with increased filament overlap will consequently be in a situation where they are able produce a greater force than that recorded in the isometric control. Weaker regions in series will be able to keep the enhanced force by recruitment of elastic elements.}},
  author       = {{Edman, Paul}},
  issn         = {{1469-7793}},
  language     = {{eng}},
  number       = {{6}},
  pages        = {{1339--1345}},
  publisher    = {{The Physiological Society}},
  series       = {{Journal of Physiology}},
  title        = {{Residual force enhancement after stretch in striated muscle. A consequence of increased myofilament overlap?}},
  url          = {{http://dx.doi.org/10.1113/jphysiol.2011.222729}},
  doi          = {{10.1113/jphysiol.2011.222729}},
  volume       = {{590}},
  year         = {{2012}},
}