title: Skeletal muscle characteristics of people with multiple sclerosis.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To compare the single-fiber characteristics and muscle weakness of persons with multiple sclerosis (MS) with that of healthy persons without MS.
  
  
  METHODS
  Descriptive.
  
  
  METHODS
  A university-based exercise physiology laboratory.
  
  
  METHODS
  Fourteen subjects (7 controls, 7 people with relapsing-remitting MS; Expanded Disability Status Scale median score, 6.0; range, 2.5-6.5).
  
  
  METHODS
  Not applicable.
  
  
  METHODS
  Singe muscle fiber myosin heavy chain (MHC) distribution, myosin adenosine triphosphatase fiber type, and single muscle fiber cross-sectional area (CSA).
  
  
  RESULTS
  The distribution of MHC I, MHC IIa, MHC IIx, and total hybrid fibers (I/IIa+I/IIa/IIx+IIa/IIx) did not differ between the 2 groups. However, the distribution of MHC I/IIa/IIx fibers was greater ( P <.040) in the MS group (MS: 6% vs controls: 2%). MS subjects also had a greater proportion ( P <.002) of MHC IIx-dominant IIa/IIx fibers (MS: 46% vs controls: 13%). Single-fiber CSA and fiber type, for all fiber types, did not differ between groups.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  These data suggest that, in general, moderately impaired MS subjects with documented muscle weakness have similar MHC and fiber-type characteristics as age-matched sedentary controls. The data indicate that the quality of skeletal muscle, with regard to MHC distribution, is unaffected by MS.
authors.affiliation: Human Performance Laboratory, Ball State University, Muncie, IN 47306, USA.
authors.forename: Chad C
authors.initials: CC
authors.lastname: Carroll
authors.forename: Philip M
authors.initials: PM
authors.lastname: Gallagher
authors.forename: Michael E
authors.initials: ME
authors.lastname: Seidle
authors.forename: Scott W
authors.initials: SW
authors.lastname: Trappe
mesh_terms: D006801:Humans; D009103:Multiple Sclerosis / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology*; D018485:Muscle Fibers, Skeletal / Q000473:pathology; D018482:Muscle, Skeletal / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology*; D018995:Myosin Heavy Chains / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: D018995:Myosin Heavy Chains