Biomechanical characteristics of unconditioned and conditioned latissimus dorsi muscles used for cardiocirculatory assistance.

An understanding of the biomechanical characteristics of striated skeletal muscles involved in cardiocirculatory assistance is a prerequisite to assess their efficacy and to evaluate their haemodynamic benefits. Six goats had their latissimus dorsi muscles evaluated by isometric strain gauge testing. Total tension, and both active and passive force development at different preloads were measured. The relationship between muscle impedance and starting length was also studied. Four additional muscles were submitted to isometric and isotonic strain gauge testing after 3 months of chronic electrical stimulation (Broussais Hospital protocol) with the contralateral muscle serving as a control. In isometric testing, both conditioned and unconditioned goat latissimus dorsi displayed a Frank-Starling length-tension curve, and a linear relationship between muscle impedance and starting length was found. Chronic stimulation preserved muscle mass and isometric force. Transformed muscles showed a mean 59% reduction of maximal shortening velocity; means (s.d.) residual shortening velocity at maximal work and power output was 0.17(0.07) m/s. The work and power output were both reduced 65% after stimulation, and the residual maximal power at optimal preload varied from approximately 7.7 and 9.6 W/kg. It is concluded that, following the Broussais protocol, the goat latissimus dorsi muscle retained mass and most of its isometric force-generating capacity, but lost significant work and power potential. The residual power output did not, however, preclude the possibility of a significant cardiocirculatory contribution, providing that the conditions for optimal energy transduction are adequately delineated.