TY - JOUR
T1 - Contractile properties of laryngeal muscles in young and old baboons
AU - McCarter, Roger J.M.
AU - Wiederhold, Michael L.
AU - Compton, Charles E.
N1 - Funding Information:
Division of Otorhinolaryngology, Department of Surgery (Drs. Mardini and Neal), the University of Texas Health Science Center, San Antonio, Texas. Accepted far publication December 1, 1986. Supported by NIH grant NS19631.
PY - 1987
Y1 - 1987
N2 - Aging is associated with changes in voice and/or laryngeal protective reflexes in humans. To assess the role of the laryngeal muscles in this change, we have examined in vitro thyroarytenoid (vocalis) muscles excised from the larynxes of young and old baboons. Contractile properties, fatigue characteristics, and resting oxygen consumption of these muscles were measured. The results indicate that the thyroarytenoid muscle of the baboon is a fast muscle that is resistant to fatigue. The thyroarytenoid muscles of older baboons contracted more slowly and recovered less rapidly from fatigue induced by prolonged contractions but developed more maximum active tension than thyroarytenoid muscles of young adult baboons. These small differences in the characteristics of thyroarytenoid muscle of older baboons are probably not sufficient to explain observed changes in laryngeal function in the elderly. The results suggest that changes in neural pathways and/or morphology of the larynx may play a larger role in the altered laryngeal function with age.
AB - Aging is associated with changes in voice and/or laryngeal protective reflexes in humans. To assess the role of the laryngeal muscles in this change, we have examined in vitro thyroarytenoid (vocalis) muscles excised from the larynxes of young and old baboons. Contractile properties, fatigue characteristics, and resting oxygen consumption of these muscles were measured. The results indicate that the thyroarytenoid muscle of the baboon is a fast muscle that is resistant to fatigue. The thyroarytenoid muscles of older baboons contracted more slowly and recovered less rapidly from fatigue induced by prolonged contractions but developed more maximum active tension than thyroarytenoid muscles of young adult baboons. These small differences in the characteristics of thyroarytenoid muscle of older baboons are probably not sufficient to explain observed changes in laryngeal function in the elderly. The results suggest that changes in neural pathways and/or morphology of the larynx may play a larger role in the altered laryngeal function with age.
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U2 - 10.1016/S0196-0709(87)80029-7
DO - 10.1016/S0196-0709(87)80029-7
M3 - Article
AN - SCOPUS:0023258424
SN - 0196-0709
VL - 8
SP - 85
EP - 90
JO - American Journal of Otolaryngology - Head and Neck Medicine and Surgery
JF - American Journal of Otolaryngology - Head and Neck Medicine and Surgery
IS - 2
ER -