Abstract
Purpose
Changes in stiffness or extensibility of the muscle or muscle–tendon unit with aging could lead to impaired function and an increased vulnerability to injury. We aimed to investigate the passive force and viscoelastic properties of single muscle fibers in older adults.
Methods
Seven older adults (mean age 79.0 ± 3.8 years) and 10 young control (mean age 25.6 ± 4.5 years) were recruited. Biopsy specimens were obtained percutaneously from m. vastus lateralis and skinned single fibers were used for the experiments. Slack tests were performed to determine maximal force and maximal unloaded shortening velocity. Passive force was measured in pCa 9.0 solution using a stepwise stretch technique with increment of sarcomere length from 2.4 to 4.2 µm. Myosin heavy chain (MHC) isoform was determined by sodium dodecyl sulfate–polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis. Specific force was calculated as maximal force divided by cross-sectional area. Passive force, peak passive force, time to half stress relaxation (T1/2) and force decay index (a force time integral under a stress relaxation curve) were measured.
Results
No difference between the groups were found in specific force and shortening velocity. Passive force and peak passive force were greater in both MHC I and IIa fibers of older adults (p < 0.001, p = 0.012, respectively, at 4.2 mm SL). Force decay index was higher in older adults. (p = 0.001 at 4.2 µm SL). There were no significant differences in passive force and viscoelastic properties between fiber types.
Conclusion
We demonstrated greater passive force and viscoelastic properties at the level of single fibers in older adults.
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Acknowledgements
This study is dedicated to the memory of Dr. Lisa S. Kirivickas. This study was supported by the Academic Grant of Harvard Medical School and the National Research Foundation of Korea (Grant NRF—800-20160360) and the National Institutes of Health, USA (Grant S21MD001830) to FWR. We thank Harrat, Hynd Chehla and Nibaldi, Eva Golenko for their help with experimental procedures.
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FWR and LJY designed and coordinated the study. LJY and PEM collected the clinical samples and clinical data. LJY and CSJ performed the laboratory work and analyzed the data. WJJ and FWR were involved in the planning and supervised the work. All the authors discussed the results and contributed to the manuscript.
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Lim, JY., Choi, S.J., Widrick, J.J. et al. Passive force and viscoelastic properties of single fibers in human aging muscles. Eur J Appl Physiol 119, 2339–2348 (2019). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00421-019-04221-7
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00421-019-04221-7