Short-range elasticity after tetanic stimulation in single muscle fibres of the frog

Abstract

The time course of the stiffness during the relaxation period following tetanic stimulation was studied in isolated single muscle fibres of the frog. The stiffness was measured by subjecting the fibres to a sudden stretch at constant velocity from an initial sarcomere length of 2.2 microns, and related to the tension carried by the muscle fibre immediately before the stretch. Both stiffness and tension fell close to the resting level during the first second (4 degrees C) after the end of stimulation. While stiffness and tension fell proportionally during the phase of almost exponential decline in tension following the shoulder in the tension recording, the relative drop in stiffness was less than the relative drop in tension during the preceding phase of almost linear decline in tension corresponding to the first 300-400 ms after the end of stimulation.