Muscle-tendon complex properties of small mammals

• Applicant: Professor Dr. Tobias Siebert
• Subject Area: Animal Physiology and Biochemistry
• Term: from 2012 to 2014
• Project identifier: Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft (DFG) - Project number 233614637

Muscles have different functions during locomotion (e.g. motor, brake,spring). This study investigates whether there are adaptions in muscleproperties according to these functions. For this purpose, the two rat muscles - M. gastrocnemius (Caput mediale) and M. quadriceps femoris(Vastus lateralis) - are compared experimentally as well as insimulations of muscle contractions. The latter requires a muscle modelwhich is able to predict the history-dependence of muscle force,namely force-depression after muscle shortening and force-enhancementafter muscle stretch. In the previous funding period we developed aphysiologically motivated model which for the first timerealistically predicts lengthening-induced force enhancement.In this last funding period (one year) it is necessary to enhance theexisting muscle model with regard to shortening-induced forcedepression. Using the enhanced muscle model we will performsimulations of muscle contractions to compare the muscles with respectto their functions (motor, brake, spring) during locomotion. Uponconclusion of the project a better understanding of functional muscleadaptations on the level of muscle properties will be achieved.

• DFG Programme: Research Grants