Thermal dependence of force-velocity relation of lamprey live striated muscle fibres.

The thermal dependence of the force-velocity relation (P - V) in thin (20-40 fibres) live twitch muscle bundles from suction apparatus of lamprey by force-clamp method was investigated. The P - V relation was hyperbolic and Hill's constants were as follows: a/P0 was 0.13 +/- 0.01 and 0.08 +/- 0.01 (mean +/- S.E.M.), b was 0.46 +/- 0.02 and 0.65 +/- 0.03 at 8 degrees C and 18 degrees C, respectively. The maximal isometric tension (P0) was about 100 mN/mm2 at 8 degrees C, 18 degrees C, and 22 degrees C. After the temperature was switched from 8 degrees C to 18 degrees C, the dependence of P0 on incubation time was observed. The maximal power output determined from P - V relation using Hill's equation was 0.062 +/- 0.002 and 0.056 +/- 0.001 at 8 degrees C and 18 degrees C, respectively. The maximal velocities of shortening (V0) were 3.9 +/- 0.1 L0/s and 7.2 +/- 0.2 L0/s at 8 degrees C and 18 degrees C, respectively. Q10 for V0 in this range of temperatures was 1.86. a/P0 and power output were about 2 times lower than those reported in literature for other animals. In general, the thermal dependence of the parameters studied was similar to those reported for fish muscles and skinned lamprey muscles, P0 being relatively independent, V0 highly dependent, and a/P0 inversely dependent on temperature.