A unique micromechanocalorimeter for simultaneous measurement of heat rate and force production of cardiac trabeculae carneae

2009 ◽  
Vol 107 (3) ◽  
pp. 946-951 ◽  
Author(s):  
June-Chiew Han ◽  
Andrew J. Taberner ◽  
Robert S. Kirton ◽  
Poul M. Nielsen ◽  
Nicholas P. Smith ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Energy Expenditure ◽  
Thermal Performance ◽  
Mechanical Performance ◽  
Force Production ◽  
Muscle Length ◽  
Heat Rate ◽  
Force Transducer ◽  
Muscle Energetics ◽  
Flow Through

To study cardiac muscle energetics quantitatively, it is of paramount importance to measure, simultaneously, mechanical and thermal performance. Ideally, this should be achieved under conditions that minimize the risk of tissue anoxia, especially under high rates of energy expenditure. In vitro, this consideration necessitates the use of preparations of small radial dimensions. To that end, we have constructed a unique micromechanocalorimeter, consisting of an open-ended flow-through microcalorimeter, a force transducer, and a pair of muscle-length actuators. The device enables the metabolic and mechanical performance of cardiac trabeculae carneae to be investigated for prolonged periods in a continuously replenished oxygen- and nutrient-rich environment.

The EMG-force relationship of the cat soleus muscle and its association with contractile conditions during locomotion.

1995 ◽  
Vol 198 (4) ◽  
pp. 975-987 ◽  
Author(s):  
A C Guimaraes ◽  
W Herzog ◽  
T L Allinger ◽  
Y T Zhang
Keyword(s):  
Soleus Muscle ◽  
Adaptive Filtering ◽  
Muscle Activation ◽  
Stance Phase ◽  
Force Production ◽  
Muscle Length ◽  
Force Transducer ◽  
Shortening Velocity ◽  
Integrated Emg ◽  
Filtering Approach

The relationship between force and electromyographic (EMG) signals of the cat soleus muscle was obtained for three animals during locomotion at five different speeds (154 steps), using implanted EMG electrodes and a force transducer. Experimentally obtained force-IEMG (= integrated EMG) relationships were compared with theoretically predicted instantaneous activation levels calculated by dividing the measured force by the predicted maximal force that the muscle could possibly generate as a function of its instantaneous contractile conditions. In addition, muscular forces were estimated from the corresponding EMG records exclusively using an adaptive filtering approach. Mean force-IEMG relationships were highly non-linear but similar in shape for different cats and different speeds of locomotion. The theoretically predicted activation-time plots typically showed two peaks, as did the IEMG-time plots. The first IEMG peak tended to be higher than the second one and it appeared to be associated with the initial priming of the muscle for force production at paw contact and the peak force observed early during the stance phase. The second IEMG peak appeared to be a burst of high muscle activation, which might have compensated for the levels of muscle length and shortening velocity that were suboptimal during the latter part of the stance phase. Although it was difficult to explain the soleus forces on the basis of the theoretically predicted instantaneous activation levels, it was straightforward to approximate these forces accurately from EMG data using an adaptive filtering approach.

The length dependence of work production in rat papillary muscles in vitro.

1995 ◽  
Vol 198 (12) ◽  
pp. 2491-2499 ◽  
Author(s):  
J Layland ◽  
I S Young ◽  
J D Altringham
Keyword(s):  
Energy Loss ◽  
Hysteresis Loops ◽  
Force Production ◽  
Muscle Length ◽  
Muscle Stiffness ◽  
Net Energy ◽  
Papillary Muscles ◽  
Cycle Frequency ◽  
Work Production

The influence of length on work production was investigated for rat papillary muscles using the work loop technique. Active and passive length-force relationships were first determined under isometric conditions and the length for maximum force production (Lmax) was derived. Starting from different lengths within the physiological range, a series of work loops was generated using the stimulation phase shift, strain amplitude and cycle frequency previously found to be optimal for power output at 37 degrees C. The relationship between muscle length and net work was used to determine the length at which work output was maximal (Lopt). In order to examine the dynamic passive properties of the muscles, unstimulated muscles were subjected to the same regime of sinusoidal oscillation as used for the active loops. From the hysteresis loops, lengthening work (work done to extend the passive muscle), passive shortening work (work returned during shortening) and net energy loss (hysteresis) could be measured. The decline in net work production at lengths greater than 95% Lmax could largely be attributed to the rapid and non-linear increase in muscle stiffness and the increase in net energy loss over this range of lengths. The physiological significance of the length-work relationship is considered and the mechanical properties of active and passive papillary muscles are discussed with reference to sarcomere length and cardiac muscle ultrastructure.

The energetics of rat papillary muscles undergoing realistic strain patterns

2001 ◽  
Vol 204 (21) ◽  
pp. 3765-3777
Author(s):  
L. J. Mellors ◽  
C. J. Barclay
Keyword(s):  
Muscle Length ◽  
Mechanical Efficiency ◽  
Male Rats ◽  
Papillary Muscles ◽  
Work Output ◽  
Muscle Energetics ◽  
Relaxation Period ◽  
Muscle Dynamics

SUMMARYStudies of cardiac muscle energetics have traditionally used contraction protocols with strain patterns that bear little resemblance to those observed in vivo. This study aimed to develop a realistic strain protocol, based on published in situ measurements of contracting papillary muscles, for use with isolated preparations. The protocol included the three phases observed in intact papillary muscles: an initial isometric phase followed by isovelocity shortening and re-lengthening phases. Realistic papillary muscle dynamics were simulated in vitro (27°C) using preparations isolated from the left ventricle of adult male rats. The standard contraction protocol consisted of 40 twitches at a contraction rate of 2 Hz. Force, changes in muscle length and changes in muscle temperature were measured simultaneously. To quantify the energetic costs of contraction, work output and enthalpy output were determined, from which the maximum net mechanical efficiency could be calculated. The most notable result from these experiments was the constancy of enthalpy output per twitch, or energy cost, despite the various alterations made to the protocol. Changes in mechanical efficiency, therefore, generally reflected changes in work output per twitch. The variable that affected work output per twitch to the greatest extent was the amplitude of shortening, while changes in the duration of the initial isometric phase had little effect. Decreasing the duration of the shortening phase increased work output per twitch without altering enthalpy output per twitch. Increasing the contraction frequency from 2 to 3 Hz resulted in slight decreases in the work output per twitch and in efficiency. Using this realistic strain protocol, the maximum net mechanical efficiency of rat papillary muscles was approximately 15 %. The protocol was modified to incorporate an isometric relaxation period, thus allowing the model to simulate the main mechanical features of ventricular function.

Rapid formation of functional muscle in vitro using fibrin gels

2005 ◽  
Vol 98 (2) ◽  
pp. 706-713 ◽  
Author(s):  
Yen-Chih Huang ◽  
Robert G. Dennis ◽  
Lisa Larkin ◽  
Keith Baar
Keyword(s):  
Physiological Function ◽  
Three Dimensional ◽  
Force Production ◽  
Force Transducer ◽  
Force Frequency ◽  
Platinum Electrodes ◽  
Fibrin Gel ◽  
Novel Method

The transition of a muscle cell from a differentiated myotube into an adult myofiber is largely unstudied. This is primarily due to the difficulty of isolating specific developmental stimuli in vivo and the inability to maintain viable myotubes in culture for sufficient lengths of time. To address these limitations, a novel method for rapidly generating three-dimensional engineered muscles using fibrin gel casting has been developed. Myoblasts were seeded and differentiated on top of a fibrin gel. Cell-mediated contraction of the gel around artificial anchors placed 12 mm apart culminates 10 days after plating in a tubular structure of small myotubes (10-μm diameter) surrounded by a fibrin gel matrix. These tissues can be connected to a force transducer and electrically stimulated between parallel platinum electrodes to monitor physiological function. Three weeks after plating, the three-dimensional engineered muscle generated a maximum twitch force of 329 ± 26.3 μN and a maximal tetanic force of 805.8 ± 55 μN. The engineered muscles demonstrated normal physiological function including length-tension and force-frequency relationships. Treatment with IGF-I resulted in a 50% increase in force production, demonstrating that these muscles responded to hormonal interventions. Although the force production was maximal at 3 wk, constructs can be maintained in culture for up to 6 wk with no intervention. We conclude that fibrin-based gels provide a novel method to engineer three-dimensional functional muscle tissue and that these tissues may be used to model the development of skeletal muscle in vitro.

scholarly journals Cardiac mechanical efficiency is preserved in primary cardiac hypertrophy despite impaired mechanical function

2021 ◽  
Vol 153 (8) ◽  
Author(s):  
June-Chiew Han ◽  
Kenneth Tran ◽  
David J. Crossman ◽  
Claire L. Curl ◽  
Parisa Koutsifeli ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Energy Efficiency ◽  
Energy Expenditure ◽  
Cardiac Hypertrophy ◽  
Mechanical Performance ◽  
Force Production ◽  
Premature Mortality ◽  
Mechanical Efficiency ◽  
Left Ventricular ◽  
Heat Output ◽  
Cross Bridge

Increased heart size is a major risk factor for heart failure and premature mortality. Although abnormal heart growth subsequent to hypertension often accompanies disturbances in mechano-energetics and cardiac efficiency, it remains uncertain whether hypertrophy is their primary driver. In this study, we aimed to investigate the direct association between cardiac hypertrophy and cardiac mechano-energetics using isolated left-ventricular trabeculae from a rat model of primary cardiac hypertrophy and its control. We evaluated energy expenditure (heat output) and mechanical performance (force length work production) simultaneously at a range of preloads and afterloads in a microcalorimeter, we determined energy expenditure related to cross-bridge cycling and Ca2+ cycling (activation heat), and we quantified energy efficiency. Rats with cardiac hypertrophy exhibited increased cardiomyocyte length and width. Their trabeculae showed mechanical impairment, evidenced by lower force production, extent and kinetics of shortening, and work output. Lower force was associated with lower energy expenditure related to Ca2+ cycling and to cross-bridge cycling. However, despite these changes, both mechanical and cross-bridge energy efficiency were unchanged. Our results show that cardiac hypertrophy is associated with impaired contractile performance and with preservation of energy efficiency. These findings provide direction for future investigations targeting metabolic and Ca2+ disturbances underlying cardiac mechanical and energetic impairment in primary cardiac hypertrophy.

An innovative work-loop calorimeter for in vitro measurement of the mechanics and energetics of working cardiac trabeculae

2011 ◽  
Vol 111 (6) ◽  
pp. 1798-1803 ◽  
Author(s):  
Andrew J. Taberner ◽  
June-Chiew Han ◽  
Denis S. Loiselle ◽  
Paul M. F. Nielsen
Keyword(s):  
Muscle Length ◽  
Mechanical Efficiency ◽  
Maximum Efficiency ◽  
Innovative Work ◽  
Flow Through ◽  
Fixed End ◽  
Work Done ◽  
Resting Muscle ◽  
Work Loop

We describe a unique work-loop calorimeter with which we can measure, simultaneously, the rate of heat production and force-length work output of isolated cardiac trabeculae. The mechanics of the force-length work-loop contraction mimic those of the pressure-volume work-loops experienced by the heart. Within the measurement chamber of a flow-through microcalorimeter, a trabecula is electrically stimulated to respond, under software control, in one of three modes: fixed-end, isometric, or isotonic. In each mode, software controls the position of a linear motor, with feedback from muscle force, to adjust muscle length in the desired temporal sequence. In the case of a work-loop contraction, the software achieves seamless transitions between phases of length control (isometric contraction, isometric relaxation, and restoration of resting muscle length) and force control (isotonic shortening). The area enclosed by the resulting force-length loop represents the work done by the trabecula. The change of enthalpy expended by the muscle is given by the sum of the work term and the associated amount of evolved heat. With these simultaneous measurements, we provide the first estimation of suprabasal, net mechanical efficiency (ratio of work to change of enthalpy) of mammalian cardiac trabeculae. The maximum efficiency is at the vicinity of 12%.

Therapeutic Application of Diacylglycerol Oil for Obesity: Serotonin Hypothesis

2012 ◽  
Vol 2 (1) ◽  
pp. 1 ◽  
Author(s):  
Hidekatsu Yanai ◽  
Hiroshi Yoshida ◽  
Yuji Hirowatari ◽  
Norio Tada
Keyword(s):  
Energy Expenditure ◽  
Molecular Mechanisms ◽  
Uncoupling Protein ◽  
Low Density Lipoprotein ◽  
Density Lipoprotein ◽  
Serotonin Release ◽  
Intestinal Cell ◽  
Therapeutic Application ◽  
Postprandial Triglyceride

Characteristics for the serum lipid abnormalities in the obesity/metabolic syndrome are elevated fasting, postprandial triglyceride (TG), and decreased high-density lipoprotein-cholesterol (HDL-C). Diacylglycerol (DAG) oil ingestion has been reported to ameliorate postprandial hyperlipidemia and prevent obesity by increasing energy expenditure, due to the intestinal physiochemical dynamics that differ from triacylglycerol (TAG). Our study demonstrated that DAG suppresses postprandial increase in TG-rich lipoprotein, very low-density lipoprotein (VLDL), and insulin, as compared with TAG in young, healthy individuals. Interestingly, our study also presented that DAG significantly increases plasma serotonin, which is mostly present in the intestine, and mediates thermogenesis, proposing a possible mechanism for a postprandial increase in energy expenditure by DAG. Our other study demonstrated that DAG suppresses postprandial increase in TG, VLDL-C, and remnant-like particle-cholesterol, in comparison with TAG in an apolipoprotein C-II deficient subject, suggesting that DAG suppresses postprandial TG-rich lipoprotein independently of lipoprotein lipase. Further, to understand the molecular mechanisms for DAG-mediated increase in serotonin and energy expenditure, we studied the effects of 1-monoacylglycerol and 2-monoacylglycerol, distinct digestive products of DAG and TAG, respectively, on serotonin release from the Caco-2 cells, the human intestinal cell line. We also studied effects of 1- and 2-monoacylglycerol, and serotonin on the expression of mRNA associated with β-oxidation, fatty acids metabolism, and thermogenesis, in the Caco-2 cells. 1-monoacylglycerol significantly increased serotonin release from the Caco-2 cells, compared with 2-monoacylglycerol by approximately 40%. The expression of mRNA of acyl-CoA oxidase (ACO), fatty acid translocase (FAT), and uncoupling protein-2 (UCP-2), was significantly higher in 1-MOG-treated Caco-2 cells, than 2-MOG-treated cells. The expression of mRNA of ACO, medium-chain acyl-CoA dehydrogenase, FAT, and UCP-2, was significantly elevated in serotonin-treated Caco-2 cells, compared to cells incubated without serotonin. In conclusion, our clinical and in vitro studies suggested a possible therapeutic application of DAG for obesity, and obesity-related metabolic disorders.Key words: Diacylglycerol, intestine, obesity, serotonin, thermogenesis

scholarly journals Polymer/Iron-Based Layered Double Hydroxides as Multifunctional Wound Dressings

Pharmaceutics ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 12 (11) ◽  
pp. 1130
Author(s):  
Mariana Pires Figueiredo ◽  
Ana Borrego-Sánchez ◽  
Fátima García-Villén ◽  
Dalila Miele ◽  
Silvia Rossi ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Drug Release ◽  
High Performance ◽  
Mechanical Performance ◽  
Release Kinetics ◽  
Wound Dressings ◽  
In Vitro Drug Release ◽  
Improved Performance ◽  
Double Hydroxide ◽  
Double Hydroxides

This work presents the development of multifunctional therapeutic membranes based on a high-performance block copolymer scaffold formed by polyether (PE) and polyamide (PA) units (known as PEBA) and layered double hydroxide (LDH) biomaterials, with the aim to study their uses as wound dressings. Two LDH layer compositions were employed containing Mg2+ or Zn2+, Fe3+ and Al3+ cations, intercalated with chloride anions, abbreviated as Mg-Cl or Zn-Cl, or intercalated with naproxenate (NAP) anions, abbreviated as Mg-NAP or Zn-NAP. Membranes were structurally and physically characterized, and the in vitro drug release kinetics and cytotoxicity assessed. PEBA-loading NaNAP salt particles were also prepared for comparison. Intercalated NAP anions improved LDH–polymer interaction, resulting in membranes with greater mechanical performance compared to the polymer only or to the membranes containing the Cl-LDHs. Drug release (in saline solution) was sustained for at least 8 h for all samples and release kinetics could be modulated: a slower, an intermediate and a faster NAP release were observed from membranes containing Zn-NAP, NaNAP and Mg-NAP particles, respectively. In general, cell viability was higher in the presence of Mg-LDH and the membranes presented improved performance in comparison with the powdered samples. PEBA containing Mg-NAP sample stood out among all membranes in all the evaluated aspects, thus being considered a great candidate for application as multifunctional therapeutic dressings.

scholarly journals Wastes from Agricultural Silage Film Recycling Line as a Potential Polymer Materials

Polymers ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 13 (9) ◽  
pp. 1383
Author(s):  
Jerzy Korol ◽  
Aleksander Hejna ◽  
Klaudiusz Wypiór ◽  
Krzysztof Mijalski ◽  
Ewelina Chmielnicka
Keyword(s):  
Vinyl Acetate ◽  
Thermal Performance ◽  
Mechanical Performance ◽  
Ethylene Vinyl Acetate ◽  
Tensile Tests ◽  
Solid Particles ◽  
Polymer Materials ◽  
Slight Reduction ◽  
Scanning Calorimetry ◽  
Crystallinity Degree

The recycling of plastics is currently one of the most significant industrial challenges. Due to the enormous amounts of plastic wastes generated by various industry branches, it is essential to look for potential methods for their utilization. In the presented work, we investigated the recycling potential of wastes originated from the agricultural films recycling line. Their structure and properties were analyzed, and they were modified with 2.5 wt % of commercially available compatibilizers. The mechanical and thermal performance of modified wastes were evaluated by tensile tests, thermogravimetric analysis, and differential scanning calorimetry. It was found that incorporation of such a small amount of modifiers may overcome the drawbacks caused by the presence of impurities. The incorporation of maleic anhydride-grafted compounds enhanced the tensile strength of wastes by 13–25%. The use of more ductile compatibilizers—ethylene-vinyl acetate and paraffin increased the elongation at break by 55–64%. The presence of compatibilizers also reduced the stiffness of materials resulting from the presence of solid particles. It was particularly emphasized for styrene-ethylene-butadiene-styrene and ethylene-vinyl acetate copolymers, which caused up to a 20% drop of Young’s modulus. Such effects may facilitate the further applications of analyzed wastes, e.g., in polymer film production. Thermal performance was only slightly affected by compatibilization. It caused a slight reduction in polyethylene melting temperatures (up to 2.8 °C) and crystallinity degree (up to 16%). For more contaminated materials, the addition of compatibilizers caused a minor reduction in the decomposition onset (up to 6 °C). At the same time, for the waste after three washing cycles, thermal stability was improved. Moreover, depending on the desired properties and application, materials do not have to go through the whole recycling line, simplifying the process, reducing energy and water consumption. The presented results indicate that it is possible to efficiently use the materials, which do not have to undergo the whole recycling process. Despite the presence of impurities, they could be applied in the manufacturing of products which do not require exceptional mechanical performance.

Sign in / Sign up

Export Citation Format

Share Document