title: Effects of inactivity on glycolytic capacity of single skeletal muscle fibers in adult and aged rats.
abstract: The purpose of this study was to determine the effects of inactivity on lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) enzyme activity (expressed in nmol/g dry weight x hour) in single skeletal musclefibers from the soleus muscle in adult and aged rats. Fourteen 12-month-old andfifteen 30-month-old Fisher 344 Brown Norway F1 Hybrid rats were randomly assigned to control, 1 week of hindlimb unweighting (HU1), or 2 weeks of hindlimb unweighting (HU2). With age, a significant decrease in LDH enzyme activity occurred in type I skeletal muscle fibers (29.5%, P < 0.05). Following HU2, individual type I skeletal muscle fibers from the 12-month-old animals showed a 33.3% increase in LDH activity. In contrast, individual type I fibers from the aged animals showed a 50.0% increase after HU1. In conclusion, the baseline levels of LDH activity were significantly less in aged versus adult rats. The timing of the skeletal muscle adaptation to inactivity was different between young and old animals, such that the older animals responded to inactivity before the younger animals. These biochemical changes may have an impact on the fatigability of the muscle following inactivity. Thefindings indicate that treatment during bed rest for the older adult may be different than that for the younger adult.
authors.affiliation: Physical Therapy Program, College of Saint Catherine, USA.
authors.forename: B E
authors.initials: BE
authors.lastname: Ojala
authors.forename: L A
authors.initials: LA
authors.lastname: Page
authors.forename: M A
authors.initials: MA
authors.lastname: Moore
authors.forename: L V
authors.initials: LV
authors.lastname: Thompson
mesh_terms: D000222:Adaptation, Physiological; D000375:Aging / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000502:physiology; D000818:Animals; D006019:Glycolysis; D019417:Hindlimb Suspension; D007770:L-Lactate Dehydrogenase / Q000378:metabolism; D018485:Muscle Fibers, Skeletal / Q000201:enzymology / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000502:physiology; D018482:Muscle, Skeletal / Q000201:enzymology / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000502:physiology; D018995:Myosin Heavy Chains / Q000378:metabolism; D051381:Rats
chemical_list: D007770:L-Lactate Dehydrogenase; D018995:Myosin Heavy Chains