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To study the detrimental effects of hypokinesia, many models of reduced muscular activity (i.e., reduced-use), including alterations in the size of the living environment, have been developed. Although significant structural and functional changes have been documented, the effect of reduced-use on muscle fatigability remains unclear. This project was designed to study the effects of cage-size on selected properties of rat hindlimb muscle, with particular emphasis on fatigue. Further, in view of the lack of information on the potential effect of gender, both males and females were studied. The rats were raised in either a small, conventional cage or one approximately 133 times larger. Subsequently, terminal experiments were performed to characterize the contractile properties, fiber-type composition and oxidative potential of two hindlimb muscles of the small- and large-cage-reared rats. The test muscles, soleus and extensor digitorum longus, were selected on the basis of their pronounced differences in function, usage and fiber-type composition. The results suggest that reductions in cage-size can influence the properties of skeletal muscle (specifically, muscle mass, force and fatigability) and that this effect is a function of both gender and interanimal differences. However, due to the large variability exhibited by all three factors, their overall effect will be minimal. An analysis of the response of the test muscles to a 6 min fatigue test revealed three findings. First, both muscles exhibited a wide range of fatigability, an unexpected finding particularly for soleus but in keeping with the multiplicity of factors discussed above. Second, the association observed between whole-muscle force and the electromyogram (e.m.g.) was found to be dependent upon the measure used to quantify the e.m.g., the fiber-type composition of the muscle and its degree of fatigability. And third, a coexistence of twitch potentiation and muscle fatigue was observed which also was dependent upon the fiber-type composition and the extent of fatigue. Finally, a comparison of qualitative and quantitative histochemical analyses revealed broad, overlapping ranges for oxidative enzyme activity for each of the three muscle-fiber types. This suggests that differences in fatigability usually attributed to different fiber types are not due solely to differences in oxidative potential.

Thesis (M.S.)--University of North Texas, May, 2007. / Title from title page display. Includes bibliographical references.

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The aim of this project was to determine the role of contraction in skeletal muscle development. The role of the initial spontaneous contractions observed in zebrafish embryos from 17 to 24 hours post fertilisation was examined. Genetic and pharmacologic approaches were used to study paralysis-induced disruption of skeletal muscle structure and function and subsequently determine the role of contraction. The structural and functional characteristics of developing skeletal muscles were found to be regulated by a dual mechanism of both movement-dependent and independent processes, in vivo. Novel data demonstrates that contraction controls sarcomere remodelling, namely regulation of actin length, via movement driven localisation of the actin capping protein, Tropmodulin1. Myofibril length was also shown to be linked to the mechanical passive property, stretch, with lengthening leading to an increase of the muscle’s ability to stretch. In addition, myofibril bundling and the myofilament lattice spacing, responsible for active tension generation via cross-bridge formation, were shown to be unaffected by paralysis and thus, movement-independent processes. Furthermore, the mechanism of the contraction-driven myofibril organisation pathway at the focal adhesion complexes (FAC), was shown to be different in zebrafish compared to mammals, with mechanosensing revolving around the Src protein rather than Fak. In summary, the role of contraction was established as a critical driver of myofibril organisation and passive tension in the developing zebrafish skeletal muscle. Passive tension regulates muscle function by determining its operational range ensuring that the needs of locomotion are met. Furthermore, investigation of FAC’s role in the contractiondriven myofibril organisation pathway led to the discovery of a novel function for Src in zebrafish somitogenesis. These two findings (i) that contraction is a driver of myofibril organisation and (ii) that Src is a key protein of the skeletal muscle development provides the potential for new therapeutic approaches in humans.

About 74 million of the world population needs assistive leg devices on daily basis on account of some form of disability. Although the standard wheelchairs perform well on level ground terrains but they prove ineffective on soft ground and in crossing large obstacles. For dealing with the advance challenges of navigating the human environment a biped walker seems to a more suitable choice. The research presented here is focused on building and actuating a two-joint leg structure that is an integral part of ongoing leg-chair project in Popovic Labs. The project provides a proof of concept that how the synthetic hydro muscles (also developed by Popovic Labs) can be used for the control of large artificial limb joints. Here we discuss the designing, testing and corresponding refining of electronics design, actuation and control of the bi-joint hydro muscle actuated leg structure .We will also elaborate on the requirements, design, problems and refinement of some of the important mechanical components like Coupler/Decoupler and Force Multipliers.

Graduation date: 1992

Reproduction de : Thèse de doctorat : Sciences du mouvement humain. Science de la vie et de la santé : Toulon : 2007. / Titre provenant du cadre-titre. Références bibliographiques f.138-152.

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