Journal of Applied Physiology AJP: Gastrointestinal and Liver Physiology
HOME HELP FEEDBACK SUBSCRIPTIONS ARCHIVE SEARCH TABLE OF CONTENTS
QUICK SEARCH:   [advanced]


     

J Appl Physiol 96: 498-506, 2004. First published September 26, 2003; doi:10.1152/japplphysiol.00842.2003
8750-7587/04 $5.00
This Article
Right arrow Full Text Free
Right arrow Full Text (PDF) Free
Right arrow All Versions of this Article:
96/2/498    most recent
00842.2003v1
Right arrow Submit a response
Right arrow Alert me when this article is cited
Right arrow Alert me when eLetters are posted
Right arrow Alert me if a correction is posted
Right arrow Citation Map
Services
Right arrow Email this article to a friend
Right arrow Similar articles in this journal
Right arrow Similar articles in ISI Web of Science
Right arrow Similar articles in PubMed
Right arrow Alert me to new issues of the journal
Right arrow Download to citation manager
Citing Articles
Right arrow Citing Articles via HighWire
Right arrow Citing Articles via ISI Web of Science (15)
Right arrow Citing Articles via Google Scholar
Google Scholar
Right arrow Articles by Lowe, D. A.
Right arrow Articles by Thomas, D. D.
Right arrow Search for Related Content
PubMed
Right arrow PubMed Citation
Right arrow Articles by Lowe, D. A.
Right arrow Articles by Thomas, D. D.

Muscle activity and aging affect myosin structural distribution and force generation in rat fibers

Dawn A. Lowe,1,2 Gordon L. Warren,5 LeAnn M. Snow,2,3 LaDora V. Thompson,2,4 and David D. Thomas1,2

1Department of Biochemistry, Molecular Biology, and Biophysics, 2Center on Aging, 3School of Kinesiology, and 4Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, Minnesota 55455; and 5Department of Physical Therapy, Georgia State University, Atlanta, Georgia 30303

Submitted 11 August 2003 ; accepted in final form 21 September 2003

The purpose of this study was to determine whether increased muscle activity could reverse myosin structural alterations that occur in aged rat muscle and whether those alterations could be induced in young rat muscle by decreased activity. Semimembranosus muscle activity was increased by electrical stimulation (200-ms trains, 154 Hz, 5 V) through a nerve cuff on the tibial branch of the ischiatic nerve. The protocol consisted of 5 sets of 6-10 maximal isometric contractions performed twice per week for 4 or 8-10 wk. Decreased muscle activity was induced by denervation of the semimembranosus muscle for 2 or 4 wk. Semimembranosus fibers were then studied for Ca2+-activated force generation. Fibers were also spin labeled on the myosin catalytic domain and studied using electron paramagnetic resonance (EPR) spectroscopy to assess myosin structural distribution. Increased muscle activity for 4 and 8-10 wk in ~32-mo-old rats resulted in -16 and +4% changes in specific tension, respectively (P < 0.01). EPR spectra showed that the fraction of myosin heads in the strong-binding structural state during contraction was reduced at 4 wk (0.241 ± 0.020 vs. 0.269 ± 0.018, P = 0.046) but returned to normal by 8-10 wk (P = 0.67). Decreased muscle activity for 2 and 4 wk in ~9-mo-old rats resulted in 23 and 34% reductions, respectively, in specific tension; EPR spectra showed 16 and 35% decreases in strong-binding myosin (P < 0.01). These data support the hypothesis that changes in muscle activity affect muscle strength, at least in part through alterations in myosin structure and function.

specific tension; permeabilized fiber; denervation; electron paramagnetic resonance spectroscopy


Address for reprint requests and other correspondence: D. A. Lowe, Univ. of Minnesota, BMBB Dept. 6-155 Jackson Hall, 321 Church St., Minneapolis, MN 55455 (E-mail: dl{at}ddt.biochem.umn.edu).




This article has been cited by other articles:


Home page
 J. Appl. Physiol.Home page
A. L. Moran, S. A. Nelson, R. M. Landisch, G. L. Warren, and D. A. Lowe
Estradiol replacement reverses ovariectomy-induced muscle contractile and myosin dysfunction in mature female mice
J Appl Physiol, April 1, 2007; 102(4): 1387 - 1393.
[Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

Home page
 J. Appl. Physiol.Home page
S. Trappe, M. Harber, A. Creer, P. Gallagher, D. Slivka, K. Minchev, and D. Whitsett
Single muscle fiber adaptations with marathon training
J Appl Physiol, September 1, 2006; 101(3): 721 - 727.
[Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

Home page
 J. Appl. Physiol.Home page
S. Zhong, D. A. Lowe, and L. V. Thompson
Effects of hindlimb unweighting and aging on rat semimembranosus muscle and myosin
J Appl Physiol, September 1, 2006; 101(3): 873 - 880.
[Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

Home page
 J. Gerontol. A Biol. Sci. Med. Sci.Home page
N. A. Fugere, D. A. Ferrington, and L. V. Thompson
Protein nitration with aging in the rat semimembranosus and soleus muscles.
J. Gerontol. A Biol. Sci. Med. Sci., August 1, 2006; 61(8): 806 - 812.
[Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

Home page
 J. Appl. Physiol.Home page
A. L. Moran, G. L. Warren, and D. A. Lowe
Removal of ovarian hormones from mature mice detrimentally affects muscle contractile function and myosin structural distribution
J Appl Physiol, February 1, 2006; 100(2): 548 - 559.
[Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

Home page
 J. Appl. Physiol.Home page
P. Szentesi, M. A. Bekedam, B. J. van Beek-Harmsen, W. J. van der Laarse, R. Zaremba, A. Boonstra, F. C. Visser, and G. J. M. Stienen
Depression of force production and ATPase activity in different types of human skeletal muscle fibers from patients with chronic heart failure
J Appl Physiol, December 1, 2005; 99(6): 2189 - 2195.
[Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

Home page
 J. Appl. Physiol.Home page
O. A. Sanchez, L. M. Snow, D. A. Lowe, R. C. Serfass, and L. V. Thompson
Effects of endurance exercise-training on single-fiber contractile properties of insulin-treated streptozotocin-induced diabetic rats
J Appl Physiol, August 1, 2005; 99(2): 472 - 478.
[Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]


HOME HELP FEEDBACK SUBSCRIPTIONS ARCHIVE SEARCH TABLE OF CONTENTS
Visit Other APS Journals Online
Copyright © 2004 by the American Physiological Society.