Differential effects of chronic acceleration on skeletal muscles.

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Abstract
Single-combed white Leg-horn male chickens were exposed to an increased accelerative force for several months. The birds were sacrificed and a hip extensor (m. adductor) and a hip flexor (m. sartorius) were removed and weighed. Glycogen and fat determinations were also made on the same muscles. Increased chronic acceleration generally causes an increase in the extensor muscle mass and a reduction in the flexor muscle mass. Muscle glycogen concentrations were not affected, however the muscle fat was reduced by the treatment and, to a greater extent, in the extensors. One year habitation at 2 G (weight: mass ratio) was of sufficient duration to produce 85% of the potential muscle mass changes. At normal gravity, 29% of the flexor muscle and 48% of the extensor muscle are apparently dependent upon the weight of the bird; i.e., the effect of gravity.

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