The deleterious effect of tetanic contraction on rabbit's triceps surae muscle during cyclic loading

To elucidate the effect of nerve stimulation on the mechanical property of muscle-tendon unit, the triceps surae muscle of New Zealand White rabbit was tested with material testing machine. After anaesthesia, the triceps surae muscle-tendon unit of rabbit was tested with cyclic loading during nerve stimulation. The differences between initial and residual force disappeared in the presence of low amplitude and low frequency nerve stimulation. Loading energy applied to the muscle-tendon unit did not change, but the unloading energy increased and energy loss decreased significantly. However, the residual force appeared again at the tetanic stimulation; the loading energy, unloading energy and energy loss all increased significantly.