Key result
Muscle stiffness was significantly higher in contracted than in resting tracheal smooth muscles at comparable forces, independent of muscle length and stimulus intensity.
The cytoskeleton of tracheal smooth muscle becomes more fixed upon contractile activation, which may optimize force development to the physical conformation of the cell.
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Stiffness differences highlight length-dependent plasticity in smooth muscle; leaves open mechanisms and clinical relevance to vascular tone.
Gunst et al. (1995) studied this question. Altering muscle length or stimulus intensity vs. Resting muscles was evaluated on Muscle stiffness during isometric contractions. Muscle stiffness was significantly higher in contracted than in resting tracheal smooth muscles at comparable forces, independent of muscle length and stimulus intensity.
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