Length changes within isolated frog muscle spindle during and after stretching

Abstract

1. The length changes within the frog muscle spindle during stretch have been studied by stroboscopic photomicroscopy. Attention was focused on the length changes within the central reticular zone and these changes were related to the features of the receptor potential.2. It was found that the length changes of the central reticular zone closely followed the applied stretch in time course and magnitude. The results suggest that the length changes of the polar zones are generally similar to those in the central zone.3. There was no evidence of a relative shortening of the central zone in the early phase of maintained stretch, corresponding to the decline of the receptor potential from its dynamic peak to the static level.4. Following release of stretch the central zone returned to its original resting length within a few msec. The rapid return of the spindle was in sharp contrast to the relatively slow exponential decay of the receptor potential. With strong or prolonged stretches the return became slower and resting length was not completely restored until 100-150 msec after release of stretch. No corresponding change in the decay of the receptor potential was seen.5. The results suggest that the early adaptive fall of the receptor potential is not related to differential length changes between the central zone and the polar zones. It seems more likely that the contribution of mechanical factors to the early adaptation of the frog spindle have to be sought at the ultrastructural level.6. The finding that the length changes closely follow the applied stretch suggests that the stimulus in terms of lengthening is transmitted to the endings with little distortion.7. The results suggest that the elastic elements play a dominant role for the transmission of the stimulus to the endings and for the return of the spindle to resting length after release of stretch.