Muscle Physiology Applications
Aurora Scientific’s muscle physiology products are used in a variety of research protocols and assays to study skeletal, cardiac and smooth muscle from cell to whole tissue. Whether in vivo, in vitro or in situ, physiologists can precisely measure various indices of function including force, length, and ratiometric calcium. They can also calculate important functional data such as twitch, tetanus, fatigue, force-frequency, force-velocity, stiffness and work loops, to name a few.
Popular basic science and preclinical applications of muscle physiology and function research are listed below.
Exercise & Metabolism
From studying how different athletes perform or recover to quantifying an animal model’s resistance to metabolic fatigue, the field of exercise and metabolic physiology encompasses a broad range of study. Aurora Scientific has solutions to address these different areas of inquiry whether in murine or other animal models, or even with human samples. Powerful software combined with precise instruments for studying whole animal, whole muscle and single fiber samples make Aurora Scientific the leader in providing Exercise Physiologists with the means to understand muscle performance at the highest level.
Common Applications:
- human performance
- fatigue
- injury rehabilitation
- training & exercise
Recent Publications:
- Masschelein et al. “Exercise promotes satellite cell contribution to myofibers in a load-dependent manner” Skeletal Muscle (2020) DOI: 10.1186/s13395-020-00237-2
- Yang et al. “Muscle-generated BDNF is a sexually dimorphic myokine that controls metabolic flexibility” Science Signaling (2019) DOI: 10.1126/scisignal.aau1468
- Hinks et al. “Influence of weighted downhill running training on serial sarcomere number and work loop performance in the rat soleus” Biology Open (2022) DOI: 10.1242/bio.059491
Cardiology
For nearly 20 years Aurora Scientific has been at the forefront of cardiac tissue mechanics research. Aurora Scientific equipment is used by many of the world’s top researchers studying isolated heart tissue, fibers and even cells. We understand that heart muscle is different from other types of muscle and that its study presents unique challenges. Whether measuring force in cardiac myocytes or quantifying the mechanical properties of iPSC-derived cardiac scaffolds, Aurora Scientific has the expertise and the instruments to support the most demanding of cardiac mechanics experiments.
Common Applications:
- myosin thick & thin filaments
- myofibrillar protein function
- cardiac scaffolds & constructs
- induced pluripotent stem cell (iPSC)-derived cardiac myocytes
- cross-bridge cycling kinetics
- artificial cardiac constructs
- cardiac tissue engineering
Recent Publications:
- Methawasin et al. “Shortening the thick filament by partial deletion of titin’s C-zone alters cardiac function by reducing the operating sarcomere length range” Journal of Molecular and Cellular Cardiology (2022) DOI: 10.1016/j.yjmcc.2022.01.002
- Boldt et al. “A high-whey-protein diet does not enhance mechanical and structural remodeling of cardiac muscle in response to aerobic exercise in rats” Physical Activity and Nutrition (2022) DOI: 10.20463/pan.2022.0005
- Pappritz et al. “Impact of syndecan-2-selected mesenchymal stromal cells on the early onset of diabetic cardiomyopathy in diabetic db/db mice” Frontiers in Cardiovascular Medicine (2021) DOI: 10.3389/fcvm.2021.632728
Muscle Pathology & Wasting
As the largest generation in history enters their senior years, research into muscle pathologies has come into greater focus. These can include rare conditions like muscular dystrophy or more commonly, muscle atrophy due to cancer or disuse after injury. To develop drugs and therapies that combat this broad group of myopathies, functional measurements of muscle are often required in animal models. Aurora Scientific has worked with researchers in this community to provide tools that allow the study of muscles like the diaphragm as well as non-invasive assays to perform longitudinal tests on an individual animal as a disease or therapy progresses. We are proud of our long history working with the leading researchers and academics in this field and proud of the role our muscle pathology research instruments have played.
Common Applications:
- Duchenne muscular dystrophy (DMD)
- cachexia & sarcopenia
- gerontology & aging
- muscle atrophy
- spinal muscular atrophy (SMA)
- myotonia
- glycogen storage disease type II (Pompe disease)
- myotubular myopathy
Recent Publications:
- Oliveira et al. “Effects of hindlimb suspension and reloading on gastrocnemius and soleus muscle mass and function in geriatric mice” Experimental Gerontology (2019) DOI: 10.1016/j.exger.2018.11.011
- Verhaart et al. “Simvastatin Treatment Does Not Ameliorate Muscle Pathophysiology in a Mouse Model for Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy” Journal of Neuromuscular Disease (2021) DOI: 10.3233/JND-200524
- Adams et al. “Small-molecule-mediated chemical knock-down of MuRF1/MuRF2 and attenuation of diaphragm dysfunction in chronic heart failure” Journal of Cachexia, Sarcopenia and Muscle (2019) DOI: 10.1002/jcsm.12448
Molecular Biology & Pharmacology
The study of animal models is one of the foundational pillars of molecular biology research. Aurora Scientific understands that your animal model is unique, and that characterizing its molecular phenotype can be challenging. It is important that the mechanism of drug action be understood in order to comprehend complex tissue responses. We have the solutions to study gross whole body physiology or the function of specific muscles to make characterizing the response of your animal model to pharmaceuticals both precise and efficient.
Common Applications:
- knockout mouse function
- signaling and transduction pathways
- muscle regulatory proteins
- stretch-activated channels
Popular Systems:
- 1200A: Isolated Muscle System for Mice
- 1300A: 3-in-1 Whole Animal System for Mice
- 1400A: Permeabilized Fiber System – Microscope Mountable
- 1500A: Isolated Muscle System – Microscope Mountable
- 315C/322C: High-Speed Length Controllers
- 400C: Force Transducers
- 800C: in-vitro Muscle Apparatus
- 804A: Permeabilized Fiber ATPase Apparatus
Recent Publications:
- vanLieshout et al. “The CARM1 transcriptome and arginine methylproteome mediate skeletal muscle integrative biology” Molecular Metabolism (2022) DOI: 10.1016/j.molmet.2022.101555
- Ross et al. “SIRT1 regulates nuclear number and domain size in skeletal muscle fibers” Journal of Cellular Physiology (2018) DOI: 10.1002/jcp.26542
- Lamin et al. “microRNA‐29a Regulates ADAM12 Through Direct Interaction With ADAM12 mRNA and Modulates Postischemic Perfusion Recovery” Journal of the American Heart Association (2022) DOI: 10.1161/JAHA.122.025727
General Muscle Physiology
Aurora Scientific produces transducers specially designed for measuring force, velocity, sarcomere length and other contractile properties in muscle. Integration with specially designed apparatus and software simplifies complex characterization of muscle properties. No matter what building block of muscle tissue you use as your model, from the myofibril to whole muscle groups and connective tissue, Aurora Scientific has a solution for you.
Common Applications:
- muscle contractile properties
- muscle architecture
- muscle metabolism
- fiber typing
- mechanical properties of muscle
Popular Systems:
- 1200A: Isolated Muscle System for Mice
- 1300A: 3-in-1 Whole Animal System for Mice
- 1400A: Permeabilized Fiber System – Microscope Mountable
- 1500A: Isolated Muscle System – Microscope Mountable
- 1700A: Myofibril System – Microscope Mountable
- 315C/322C: High-Speed Length Controllers
- 400C: Force Transducers
- 800C: in-vitro Muscle Apparatus
- 804A: Permeabilized Fiber ATPase Apparatus
Recent Publications:
- Klemm et al. “On a coupled electro-chemomechanical model of gastric smooth muscle contraction” Acta Biomaterialia (2020) DOI: 10.1016/j.actbio.2020.04.007
- Adam et al. “One-to-one innervation of vocal muscles allows precise control of birdsong” Current Biology (2021) DOI: 10.1016/j.cub.2021.05.008
- Lim et al. “Passive force and viscoelastic properties of single fibers in human aging muscles” European Journal of Applied Physiology (2019) DOI: 10.1007/s00421-019-04221-7
Comparative Muscle Physiology
The study of how living things move and are shaped by their environment often requires specialized tools and assays. Aurora Scientific has proven instruments engineered to the highest standards of accuracy and precision to uncover the diverse functional characteristics of muscle in your unique animal models. Measure complex muscle contractile properties from leeches, zebrafish and even cheetahs with our diverse, high-performance muscle physiology equipment.
Common Applications:
- muscle energetics
- muscle morphology
- locomotion
- bio-inspiration
- invertebrate muscle
- amphibian muscle
- reptilian muscle
- mammalian muscle
Popular Systems:
- 1200A: Isolated Muscle System for Mice
- 1300A: 3-in-1 Whole Animal System for Mice
- 1400A: Permeabilized Fiber System – Microscope Mountable
- 1500A: Isolated Muscle System – Microscope Mountable
- 315C/322C: High-Speed Length Controllers
- 400C: Force Transducers
- 800C: in-vitro Muscle Apparatus
- 804A: Permeabilized Fiber ATPase Apparatus
Recent Publications:
- Olberding & Deban “Effects of temperature and force requirements on muscle work and power output” The Journal of Experimental Biology (2017) DOI: 10.1242/jeb.153114
- Klaiman, Jordan M. “Cold acclimation increases cardiac myofilament function and ventricular pressure generation in trout.” The Journal of Experimental Biology (2014) DOI: 10.1242/jeb.109041
- Klaiman, Jordan M. “Cold acclimation increases cardiac myofilament function and ventricular pressure generation in trout.” The Journal of Experimental Biology (2014) DOI: 10.1242/jeb.109041
Explore Muscle Physiology Content
Comparative Biology Using Animal Models
Aurora Scientific provides instrumentation to aid in collecting and analyzing data in numerous comparative animal models highlighted in some recent publications in this review.
Setup and Use of the 3-in-1 Whole Animal System
This virtual demo will show how to setup and operate Aurora Scientific's 3-in-1 Whole Animal System.
Designing an in-vivo study in DMC LabBook
This blog will provide a walkthrough of how to design a study in our Dynamic Muscle Control (DMC) LabBook software, specifically for 1300A 3-in-1 Whole Animal System in-vivo experiments.
Unique and Interesting Animal Models
At Aurora Scientific, we provide instrumentation to help assess muscle biomechanics in a variety of animal models from flies to octopuses, and highlight some recent examples in this publication review.