Effect of ageing on the force development in tetanic contractions of motor units in rat medial gastrocnemius muscle

The purpose of this study was to determine the effect of ageing on the rate of force generation of motor units, and the mechanical efficiency of contraction produced by a doublet discharge. The study was carried out on isolated motor units of rat medial gastrocnemius muscle of young (5–10 mo) and two groups of old (24–25 and 28–30 mo) Wistar rats. Motor units were classified into the fast fatigable (FF), fast resistant (FR) and slow (S) ones. The force output and rate of force development were determined for non-doublet unfused tetanic contractions evoked by a series of a constant-rate trains of pulses and corresponding doublet contractions starting with an initial brief interpulse interval of 5 ms, and for maximal tetanic contraction. In FF motor units the rate of force development and the force produced by the doublet discharge increased transiently at the age of 24–25 mo, while in S and FR motor units this increase was observed at the age of 28–30 mo. Age-related decrease in the rate of force development of skeletal muscle cannot be attributed to a decline in efficiency of force production by functioning motor units.

Research highlights▶ Brief doublet stimulation produces more force and impulse in motor units with ageing. ▶ Peak rate of force development of motor units is increased by ageing. ▶ Efficiency of force production of functioning MUs does not decline with ageing.