Clamps and chamber with adaptation of strain gauge for isometric or
isotonic recording of frog muscle contractions.
Easton, Dexter M.
Department of Biological Science and Neuroscience Program, The Florida
State University, Tallahassee, FL 32306-3050, telephone: (904) 644-3207, FAX:
(904) 644-0481.
APStracts 2:0011S, 1995.
ABSTRACT
Simple devices are described that can facilitate student experiments on
mechanical and electrical aspects of muscle contraction, for example of
isolated preparations such as frog gastrocnemius and sartorius muscles and
gut. The system includes a general-purpose preparation bath, previously
described for electrophysiological observations with suction electrodes
(Easton, Adv . Physiol . Educ . 1993). A tower installed in the bath allows
the muscle to be oriented vertically but completely submerged in a limited
volume. Recording of isotonic contraction, which is the more familiar behavior
of skeletal muscle, is made convenient by an accessory to convert the commonly
available Statham force transducer to isometric recording. Phenomena not
conveniently accessible by isometric recording, such as muscle work, and also
the length-tension relation, not ordinarily observed for isotonic contraction,
can be demonstrated.
Received 27 March 1995; accepted in final form 18 March 1996.
APS Manuscript Number S008-5.
Article publication pending J. Neurophysiol.
ISSN 1080-4757 Copyright 1996 The American Physiological Society.
Published in APStracts on 1 April 96