Measurement of tissue volume during non-steady state high intensity muscle contraction. Ward, Dianne S., Marc T. Hamilton, & Philip D. Watson. Departments of Exercise Science and Physiology, University of South Carolina
APStracts 3:0317R, 1996.
To investigate the pressures driving water into stimulated muscle, water distribution during and following muscle stimulation was studied in isolated cat muscles perfused by recirculating diluted blood. 51Cr-EDTA and Evans blue-labeled albumin were used to determine extracellular volume and plasma volume (PV) respectively. Change in tissue volume was calculated as -PV. Interstitial volume (IFV) was determined from the ratio of interstitial solute (51Cr-EDTA and sodium) mass and interstitial concentration. Interstitial mass was determined by mass balance, and interstitial concentration was determined from solute flux and Fick's Law. One group was stimulated at 4 Hz for 2 min., and a second was stimulated by 80 Hz trains (1 train/sec, 0.1 sec dur.). 4 Hz stimulation increased total tissue volume by approx. 3 ml.100g-1 and decreased IFV by 1 ml.100g-1. Train stimulation increased total tissue volume by 6 ml.100g-1 and decreased IFV by 4. These data indicate water moves into cells faster than the simultaneous transcapillary flow, suggesting that intracellular osmoles provide the primary driving pressure in stimulation-induced swelling.

Received 3 August 1995; accepted in final form 20 June 1996.
APS Manuscript Number R488-5.
Article publication pending Am. J. Physiol. (Regulatory Integrative
Comp. Physiology).
ISSN 1080-4757 Copyright 1996 The American Physiological Society.
Published in APStracts on 19 September 1996