TABLE 3.

Effects of age (mature/juvenile) and treatment (control/unloaded) on specific tension at beginning (Initial) and conclusion (Final) of 5 min train of indirect (nerve) or direct (muscle) stimulation.

	Initial		Final
	Indirect stimulation*†⁣‡	Direct stimulation*†⁣‡	Indirect stimulation*†⁣‡	Direct stimulation†⁣‡
Juvenile, CTL	21.1 ± 3.7	27.9 ± 3.1	7.3 ± 1.5	15.9 ± 1.8¶
Juvenile, UL	6.2 ± 3.5#	9.5 ± 2.5#	4.0 ± 1.5	8.4 ± 1.4
Mature, CTL	23.2 ± 3.3	27.4 ± 3.3	6.5 ± 1.3	12.1 ± 1.8
Mature, UL	22.6 ± 3.4	26.1 ± 3.1	7.4 ± 1.7	12.3 ± 2.1

Values are mean ± SE, N = 10/group. Specific tension calculated as peak tension in Newtons divided by whole muscle wet weight × 100, i.e., N/mg × 100.

*Indicates significant (P ≤ 0.05) main effect for age (Mature > Juvenile).

^†Indicates significant (P ≤ 0.05) main effect for treatment (CTL > UL).

^‡Indicates significant (P ≤ 0.05) interactive effect between age and treatment.

^#Indicates significant (P ≤ 0.05) difference from all other groups.

^¶ Indicates significant (P ≤ 0.05) difference from Juvenile, UL.

CTL, control; UL, unloaded.