Energetics and power output of isolated fish fast muscle fibres performing oscillatory work

Fast myotomal muscle fibres were isolated from the cod (Gadus morhua L.) and the energy cost of contraction was measured under conditions simulating swimming. Fibre bundles were subjected to sinusoidal cycles of shortening and lengthening about their in situ fibre length, and stimulated at selected phases in each cycle. The preparations were poisoned with iodoacetic acid and bubbled with nitrogen to block the synthesis of ATP. After an initial rapid decline over the first 10 cycles, force and net work remained steady in some cases for up to 64 oscillatory length cycles, but more commonly declined slowly after about 30 cycles. The total mechanical work performed increased largely in proportion to the number of work cycles. At the end of each experiment fibres were frozen in isopentane cooled in liquid nitrogen and metabolite concentrations determined by high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) and enzymatic analysis. Concentrations of adenylates did not differ significantly from control values, although a significant increase in IMP concentrations at 64 cycles accounted for the maintenance of relatively high energy charge values. Creatine (C) concentrations increased and creatine phosphate (CP) concentrations decreased, implying a tight coupling of the ATP/ADP reaction to the CP/C reaction. Muscle economy was calculated as the positive work performed during a work cycle divided by the total chemical energy expended. These values (approx. 7 mJ mumol-1) were found to be independent of the number of work cycles performed, although a trend to increase was observed. Muscle efficiency values, calculated assuming a Gibb's force free energy change for CP splitting in vivo of 55 kJ mol-1, were in the range 12–23%.