MHC-based fiber type and E-C coupling characteristics in mechanically skinned muscle fibers of the rat.
In this study, we investigated whether the previously established differences between fast- and slow-twitch single skeletal muscle fibers of the rat, in terms of myosin heavy chain (MHC) isoform composition and contractile function, are also detectable in excitation-contraction (E-C) coupling. We compared the contractile responsiveness of electrophoretically typed, mechanically skinned single fibers from the soleus (Sol), the extensor digitorum longus (EDL), and the white region of the sternomastoid (SM) muscle to t-system depolarization-induced activation. The quantitative parameters assessed were the amplitude of the maximum depolarization-induced force response (DIFR(max); normalized to the maximum Ca(2+)-activated force in that fiber) and the number of responses elicited until the force declined by 75% of DIFR(max) (R-D(75%)). The mean DIFR(max) values for type IIB EDL and type IIB SM fibers were not statistically different, and both were greater than the mean DIFR(max) for type I Sol fibers. The mean R-D(75%) for type IIB EDL fibers was greater than that for type I Sol fibers as well as type IIB SM fibers. These data suggest that E-C coupling characteristics of mechanically skinned rat single muscle fibers are related to MHC-based fiber type and the muscle of origin.
Goodman
Craig
C
Muscle Cell Biochemistry Laboratory, School of Biomedical Sciences, Victoria University, Melbourne City, Melbourne 8001, Australia.
Patterson
Michael
M
Stephenson
Gabriela
G
D000818:Animals; D004594:Electrophysiology; D066298:In Vitro Techniques; D008564:Membrane Potentials / Q000502:physiology; D009119:Muscle Contraction / Q000502:physiology*; D018485:Muscle Fibers, Skeletal / Q000737:chemistry / Q000145:classification / Q000166:cytology / Q000378:metabolism*; D018995:Myosin Heavy Chains / Q000378:metabolism*; D020033:Protein Isoforms / Q000378:metabolism; D051381:Rats; D020318:Rats, Long-Evans
D020033:Protein Isoforms; D018995:Myosin Heavy Chains