Neuromuscular control of locomotion is altered by tail autotomy in geckos
Abstract
Animal locomotion is driven by underlying axial and appendicular musculature. In order for locomotion to be effective, these muscles must be able to rapidly respond to changes in environmental and physiological demands. Although virtually unstudied, muscles must also respond to morphological changes, such as those that occur with tail autotomy in lizards. Tail autotomy in leopard geckos (Eublepharis macularius) results in a 25% loss of caudal mass and significant kinematic alterations to maintain stability. To elucidate how motor control of the locomotor muscles is modulated with these shifts, we used electromyography (EMG) to quantify patterns of in vivo muscle activity in forelimb and hindlimb muscles before and after autotomy. Forelimb muscles (biceps brachii and triceps brachii) exhibited no changes in motor recruitment, consistent with unaltered kinematics after autotomy. The amplitude of activity of propulsive muscles of the hindlimbs (caudofemoralis and gastrocnemius) was significantly reduced and coincided with decreases in the propulsive phases of femur retraction and ankle extension, respectively. The puboischiotibialis did not exhibit these changes, despite significant reductions in femur depression and knee angle, s...Continue Reading
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