Whole EDL muscle contractility and force generation were analyzed using an ASI muscle contraction system (Aurora Scientific, Aurora, Canada) as described previously (Wei-Lapierre et al., 2013).
It is well known that the Ca2+ ion is central for the cardiac contraction system and for the signaling networks that regulate pathological cardiac growth and remodeling.
We developed the rodent involuntary muscle contraction system that electrically stimulates the lower hind limb muscles of anesthetized rats and measures the isometric force output by placing force transducers behind the foot pedals.
Thus, we examined their genetic signatures from multiple angles, including oxygen transport, energy supply, urinary excretion, and cardiac muscle contraction systems.
We aimed to develop a higher throughput involuntary contraction assay system that enables routine in-vivo studies to screen compound efficacy to support drug discovery.
The pre-publication history for this paper can be accessed here: http://www.biomedcentral.com/1471-2474/12/246/prepub We acknowledge Ms. Catherine Harlan and Ms. Shivani Joshi, of Merck Research Laboratories, for their contributions during the early development of the involuntary contraction assay system.
In summary, the fatigue tests that were performed in the two different studies, using our custom built involuntary contraction assay system, provided data that are validated by the literature.
Basilar arteries were prepared from rat brains with microsurgical tools, and approx. 4-mm-long rings were then mounted in an isometric contraction measurement system (DMT-510, Danish Myotechnology, Aarhus, Denmark).
Stokes, D. R. & Rushforth, N. B. Contraction pulse systems in hydroids.
The main reasons for a decrease in voluntary and electrically induced muscle performance after SSE are damage to force-bearing structures [ 2, 22, 23], changes in the excitation-contraction coupling system [ 4, 6, 24], and voluntary activation of muscle [ 19, 25].
The only kind of contraction our current system can manage is a brutal crash, in which the most vulnerable will suffer most of all.
