Journal of Applied Physiology
HOME HELP FEEDBACK SUBSCRIPTIONS ARCHIVE SEARCH TABLE OF CONTENTS
QUICK SEARCH:   [advanced]


     

J Appl Physiol 63: 1665-1670, 1987;
8750-7587/87 $5.00
This Article
Right arrow Full Text (PDF)
Right arrow Submit a response
Right arrow Alert me when this article is cited
Right arrow Alert me when eLetters are posted
Right arrow Alert me if a correction is posted
Services
Right arrow Email this article to a friend
Right arrow Similar articles in this journal
Right arrow Similar articles in PubMed
Right arrow Alert me to new issues of the journal
Right arrow Download to citation manager
Citing Articles
Right arrow Citing Articles via HighWire
Right arrow Citing Articles via Google Scholar
Google Scholar
Right arrow Articles by Thomas, A. J.
Right arrow Articles by Kelsen, S. G.
Right arrow Search for Related Content
PubMed
Right arrow PubMed Citation
Right arrow Articles by Thomas, A. J.
Right arrow Articles by Kelsen, S. G.

Journal of Applied Physiology, Vol 63, Issue 4 1665-1670, Copyright © 1987 by American Physiological Society

ARTICLES

Structure of abdominal muscles in the hamster: effect of elastase-induced emphysema

A. J. Thomas, J. S. Arnold, B. Simhai and S. G. Kelsen
Department of Medicine, Case Western Reserve University, Cleveland, Ohio.

The present study examined the effects of elastase-induced emphysema on the structure of the external oblique and transverse abdominis muscles and a non-respiratory muscle, the extensor digitorum longus. Muscle structure was assessed from the cross-sectional area (CSA) and percent of individual fiber types in histochemically stained sections and from the number of sarcomeres arranged in series along the length of individual fibers. Data were obtained in eight hamsters with emphysema and nine saline-injected controls. In the normal (control) animals the external oblique was thicker but contained fewer sarcomeres than the transverse abdominis. Fiber size was similar in the two muscles. In the transverse abdominis the percents of fast-glycolytic and fast-oxidative fibers were greater and smaller, respectively, than in the external oblique. Lung volume of emphysematous hamsters was 168% of control values (P less than 0.001). In emphysematous compared with control animals, the CSA of fast-twitch fibers in the external oblique and transverse abdominis was significantly reduced. Fiber length and sarcomere number were significantly decreased in the transverse abdominis but not in the external oblique in emphysematous hamsters. In contrast, fiber size and composition of the extensor digitorum longus was similar in emphysematous and control animals. These data indicate that cellular responses of the ventilatory muscles to chronic hyperinflation and altered thoracic geometry induced by emphysema are not present in limb skeletal muscle. We speculate that changes in fiber length and CSA of fast fibers in the abdominal expiratory muscles reflect responses to chronic alterations in the mechanics of breathing that may affect muscle load, length, or the pattern of activity.


This article has been cited by other articles:


Home page
 J. Appl. Physiol.Home page
L. Wang, P. D. Pare, and C. Y. Seow
Plasticity in Skeletal, Cardiac, and Smooth Muscle: Selected Contribution: Effect of chronic passive length change on airway smooth muscle length-tension relationship
J Appl Physiol, February 1, 2001; 90(2): 734 - 740.
[Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]


HOME HELP FEEDBACK SUBSCRIPTIONS ARCHIVE SEARCH TABLE OF CONTENTS
Visit Other APS Journals Online