Effects on shortening velocity of rabbit skeletal muscle due to variations in the level of thin-filament activation.

The effect of Ca2+ upon maximum shortening velocity (Vmax) has been investigated in skinned single fibres from rabbit psoas muscles. Vmax was obtained at 15 degrees C by measuring the amounts of time (delta t) required to take up various amounts of slack (delta l) imposed at one end of the fibre. During maximal activation with Ca2+, plots of delta l vs. delta t were well fitted by a single straight line. Calculation of Vmax from the slopes of the fitted lines yielded a Vmax of 4.44 +/- 0.15 (S.E. of mean) muscle lengths per second (m.l./s). However, at lower levels of Ca2+ activation, plots of delta l vs. delta t were biphasic, containing an initial phase of steady high-velocity shortening and a subsequent phase of steady low-velocity shortening. The transition between these two phases occurred following active shortening equivalent to 60-80 nm/half-sarcomere. Vmax during the high-velocity phase was relatively insensitive to Ca2+ concentration between pCas (i.e. -log [Ca2+]) of 4.5 and 6.0; however, Vmax fell to 3.58 +/- 0.40 m.l./s at pCa 6.1 and further to 1.02 +/- 0.30 m.l./s at pCa 6.2. Vmax during the low-velocity phase decreased as Ca2+ was lowered within the entire range of pCas studied to a minimum value of 0.35 +/- 0.09 m.l./s at pCa 6.2. The degree of thin-filament activation at a particular pCa was varied by partial extraction of troponin-C, which resulted in a permanent though reversible inactivation of parts of the thin filaments. Partial extraction of troponin-C altered the plots of delta l vs. delta t obtained at pCa 4.5 to a biphasic form. In addition, Vmax during the high- and low-velocity phases of shortening was reduced at each pCa greater than 4.5. Vmax values obtained in control fibres at low Ca2+ concentrations and extracted fibres were in good agreement when generated isometric tensions were equivalent. This was the case for both the high- and low-velocity phases of shortening. Fibres were also activated in the absence of Ca2+ by partial removal of total troponin complexes. These fibres developed steady tensions less than 30% of maximum and underwent biphasic shortening, indicating that this phenomenon cannot be the result of shortening-induced dissociation of Ca2+ from troponin-C.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 400 WORDS)