A mechanism accounting for independence on starting length of tension increase in ramp stretches of active skeletal muscle at short half-sarcomere lengths

Based on previous experimental results of independence on starting length of the tension gradient in constant-velocity stretches of active skeletal muscle at muscle lengths including the ascending limb and the plateau of the tension-length relation, a possible physiological mechanism determining the tension increase in lengthening active muscle is discussed. Considering the sliding filament theory, it is suggested that the tension-length relation of a half-sarcomere in lengthening contractions is different from that in isometric contractions. The assumed mechanism predicts, among others, that the thick filament retains its shortened length in lengthening contractions starting from a half-sarcomere length where this filament is compressed. An example model is implemented and checked with simulations. (C) 2010 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.