title: Changes in canine latissimus dorsi muscle during 24 wk of continuous electrical stimulation.
abstract: To study functional, structural, and biochemical adaptations to electrical stimulation of striated muscle in a large animal, the canine latissimus dorsi (LD) muscle was conditioned continuously for 24 wk with an increasing number of pulse bursts (burst duration 250 ms, burst frequency 30 Hz). Force measurements in vivo after 12 wk showed a significant decrease in the ripple, the ratio of interstimulus to peak force amplitude, from 0.94 +/- 0.03 to 0.13 +/- 0.08 (SE; n = 8, P less than 0.05), indicating reduction in contractile speed. Also the steep part of the force-frequency relation shifted to lower frequencies. A significant change in fiber-type composition was seen with both enzyme- and immunohistochemistry, manifested by an increase of type I fibers from 29.5 +/- 2.9 to 83 +/- 8% (SE; n = 8, P less than 0.05). During this period a transient rise in the number of type IIc/Ic fibers (from 3 to 10%) was seen. In the stimulated muscle, capillary-to-fiber ratio increased from 1.9 +/- 0.4 to 2.7 +/- 0.1 (P less than 0.05). A significant increase in mitochondrial volume was also seen, especially in the peripheral part of the fiber. Both creatine kinase and lactate dehydrogenase revealed a significant decline in activity within 12 wk. At the same time a shift in lactate dehydrogenase-isozyme pattern was observed toward the cardiac composition. No additional changes occurred after 12 wk of stimulation, indicating that conversion of the canine LD muscle was complete within this period.
authors.affiliation: Department of Cardiology, Academic Hospital Maastricht, University of Limburg, The Netherlands.
authors.forename: C M
authors.initials: CM
authors.lastname: Lucas
authors.forename: M G
authors.initials: MG
authors.lastname: Havenith
authors.forename: F H
authors.initials: FH
authors.lastname: van der Veen
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Habets
authors.forename: T
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: van der Nagel
authors.forename: J M
authors.initials: JM
authors.lastname: Schrijvers-Van Schendel
authors.forename: O C
authors.initials: OC
authors.lastname: Penn
authors.forename: H J
authors.initials: HJ
authors.lastname: Wellens
mesh_terms: D000222:Adaptation, Physiological; D000818:Animals; D003402:Creatine Kinase / Q000378:metabolism; D004285:Dogs; D004558:Electric Stimulation; D005260:Female; D007527:Isoenzymes; D007770:L-Lactate Dehydrogenase / Q000378:metabolism; D008297:Male; D009119:Muscle Contraction / Q000502:physiology; D009132:Muscles / Q000033:anatomy & histology / Q000502:physiology*; D009218:Myosins / Q000378:metabolism; D013997:Time Factors
chemical_list: D007527:Isoenzymes; D007770:L-Lactate Dehydrogenase; D003402:Creatine Kinase; D009218:Myosins