Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

The length dependence of the series elasticity of pig bladder smooth muscle

  • Papers
  • Published:
Journal of Muscle Research & Cell Motility Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Summary

Strips of urinary bladder smooth muscle were subjected to a series of quick release measurements. Each measurement consisted of several releases and resets to the original length, made during one contraction. The complete length-force characteristic of series elasticity was quantified by estimatingH, the amplitude of quick release necessary to reduce the active force to exactly zero, andD b, a measure for the deviation of the characteristic from a straight line. By measuring a series of contractions at increasing stretched strip lengths, the length dependence of these parameters was studied. It was found thatH depends linearly on stretched strip length. On averageH/length amounted to 0.04.D b decreased when strips were stretched, i.e. a straight line was more closely approximated. Both parameter dependencies support the concept of two separate elastic mechanisms, a linear true passive elasticity in series with a non-linear elasticity in the cross-bridges. For the latter,H amounts to 3.8% of the initial strip length.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  • Bagby, R. M. &Corey-Kreyling, M. D. (1984) Structural aspects of the contractile machinery of smooth muscle: ‘Is the organization of contractile elements compatible with a sliding filament mechanism?’ InSmooth Muscle Contraction. (Edited byStephens, N. L.) pp. 47–74. New York: Marcel Dekker.

    Google Scholar 

  • Bressler, B. H. &Clinch, N. F. (1974) The compliance of contracting skeletal muscle.J. Physiol (Lond.) 237, 477–93.

    Google Scholar 

  • Fay, F. S., Fogarty, K. &Fujiwara, K. (1984) The organization of the contractile apparatus in single isolated smooth muscle cells. InSmooth Muscle Contraction. (edited byStephens, N. L.) pp. 75–90. New York: Marcel Dekker.

    Google Scholar 

  • Ford, L. E., Huxley, A. F. &Simmons, R. M. (1977) Tension responses to sudden length change in stimulated frog muscle fibres near slack length.J. Physiol. (Lond). 269, 441–515.

    Google Scholar 

  • Gabella, G (1981) Structure of smooth muscles. InSmooth Muscle: An Assessment of Current Knowledge (edited byBulbring, E. et al.) pp. 1–46. London: Edward Arnold.

    Google Scholar 

  • Griffiths, D. J., Van Mastrigt, R., Van Duyl, W. A. &Coolsaet, B. L. R. A (1979) Active mechanical properties of the smooth muscle of the urinary bladder.Med. Biol. Eng. Comp. 17, 281–90.

    Google Scholar 

  • Hellstrand, P. &Johansson, B. (1979) Analysis of the length response to a force step in smooth muscle from rabbit urinary bladder.Acta Physiol. Scand. 106, 221–38.

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Hellstrand, P. (1979) Mechanical and metabolic properties related to contraction in smooth muscle.Acta Physiol. Scand Suppl. 464.

  • Huxley, A. F. (1957) Muscle structure and theories of contraction.Progr. Biophys.Chem. 7, 255–318.

    Google Scholar 

  • Huxley, A. F. (1974) Review Lecture: Muscular Contraction.J. Physiol (Lond). 243-1, 1–43.

    Google Scholar 

  • Krebs, H. A. (1932) Untersuchungen uber die harnstoffbildung in Tierkorper.Hoppe Seyler's Zeit. Physiol. Chemie 210, 33–67.

    Google Scholar 

  • Meiss, R. A. (1978) Dynamic stiffness of rabbit mesotubarium smooth muscle: Effect of isometric length.Am. J. Physiol 234-1, C14-C26.

    Google Scholar 

  • Mulvany, M. J. (1984) Cross-bridges in smooth muscle. InSmooth Muscle Contraction, (edited byStephens, N. L.) pp. 145–50. New York: Marcel Dekker.

    Google Scholar 

  • Murphy, R. A. (1976) Contractile system function in mammalian smooth muscle.Blood Vessels 13, 1–23.

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Van Mastrigt, R. (1977) Constant-step approximation of multi-exponential signals using a least squares criterion.Comp. Biol. Med. 7, 231–47.

    Google Scholar 

  • Van Mastrigt, R. &Tauecchio, E. A. (1982) Serieselastic properties of strips of smooth muscle from pig urinary bladder.Med. Biol. Eng. Comp. 20, 585–94.

    Google Scholar 

  • Van Mastrigt, R. &Glerum, J. J. (1985) Electrical stimulation of smooth muscle strips from the urinary bladder of the pig.J. Biomed. Eng. 7, 2–8.

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Van Mastrigt, R., Koopal, J. W. B., Hak, J. &Van De Wetering, J. (1986) Modeling the contractility of urinary smooth muscle using isometric contractions.Am. J. Physiol. 251, R978-R983.

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Meiss, R. A. (1978) Dynamic stiffness of rabbit mesotubarium smooth muscle: effect of isometric length.Am. J. Physiol. 234-1, C14-C26.

    Google Scholar 

  • Warshaw, D. M. &Fay, F. (1984) Tension transients in single isolate smooth muscle cells: insight into the cross-bridge mechanism. InSmooth Muscle Contractions (edited byStephens, N. L.) pp. 131–44. New York: Marcel Dekker.

    Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Urology, Erasmus University Rotterdam, PO Box 1738, 3000, DR Rotterdam, The Netherlands

    R. Van Mastrigt

Authors
  1. R. Van Mastrigt
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Van Mastrigt, R. The length dependence of the series elasticity of pig bladder smooth muscle. J Muscle Res Cell Motil 9, 525–532 (1988). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF01738757

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF01738757

Keywords

Search

Navigation