Herzog, WalterEngel, Maria2016-11-022016-11-0220162016Engel, M. (2016). The Effects Of Increased Stimulation On Sarcomere Number (Master's thesis, University of Calgary, Calgary, Canada). Retrieved from https://prism.ucalgary.ca. doi:10.11575/PRISM/28108http://hdl.handle.net/11023/3450Tabary et al. (1981) accelerated serial sarcomere loss by applying electrical stimulation, resulting in a 25% decrease in sarcomere number (SN) in the guinea pig soleus muscle within 12 hours. A duplication of these results was attempted in our laboratory. Rabbit lower hind limb muscles were stimulated for 10 hours continuously. As a result, muscles lost approximately 25% of sarcomeres in series. During laser diffraction analysis, it was observed that the first order diffraction band was wider in experimental compared to control muscles, implying some form of non-uniformity within the fascicle. Therefore, sarcomere length non-uniformity and structural disorganization was analyzed using light microscopy. Electrical stimulation indeed caused an increase in SL nonuniformity. In an attempt to examine the possibility of sarcomere loss in a more clinically relevant environment, muscle morphology and SN was analyzed in the genetically spastic mouse. The gastrocnemius muscle was shorter, but SN was generally unchanged.engUniversity of Calgary graduate students retain copyright ownership and moral rights for their thesis. You may use this material in any way that is permitted by the Copyright Act or through licensing that has been assigned to the document. For uses that are not allowable under copyright legislation or licensing, you are required to seek permission.Animal PhysiologyBiology--CellPhysiologySkeletal MuscleSerial Sarcomere NumberFascicle LengthSarcomere LengthLaser DiffractionCerebral PalsyMuscle Damagemaster thesis10.11575/PRISM/28108