Vandenboom, Rene

We hypothesized that decrements in maximum power output (W˙max) of the rat diaphragm (Dia) muscle with repetitive activation are due to a disproportionate reduction in force (force fatigue) compared with a slowing of shortening velocity (velocity fatigue). Segments of midcostal Dia muscle were mounted in vitro (26°C) and stimulated directly at 75 Hz in 400-ms-duration trains repeated each second (duty cycle = 0.4) for 120 s. A novel technique was used to monitor instantaneous reductions in maximum specific force (Po) andW˙maxduring fatigue. During each stimulus train, activation was isometric for the initial 360 ms during which Powas measured; the muscle was then allowed to shorten at a constant velocity (30% Vmax) for the final 40 ms, and W˙maxwas determined. Compared with initial values, after 120 s of repetitive activation, PoandW˙maxdecreased by 75 and 73%, respectively. Maximum shortening velocity was measured in two ways: by extrapolation of the force-velocity relationship ( Vmax) and using the slack test [maximum unloaded shortening velocity ( Vo)]. After 120 s of repetitive activation, Vmaxslowed by 44%, whereas Voslowed by 22%. Thus the decrease inW˙maxwith repetitive activation was dominated by force fatigue, with velocity fatigue playing a secondary role. On the basis of a greater slowing of Vmaxvs. Vo, we also conclude that force and power fatigue cannot be attributed simply to the total inactivation of the most fatigable fiber types.