title: Chronic activation of 5'-AMP-activated protein kinase changes myosin heavy chain expression in growing pigs.
abstract: The purpose of this study was to determine the effect of 5'-AMP-activated protein kinase (AMPK) on energy metabolism and myosin heavy chain (MyHC) isoform expression in growing pigs using chronic treatment with 5-aminoimidazole-4-carboxamide-1-beta-d-ribofuranoside (AICAR) as a model. Four-week-old pigs were given daily injections of AICAR or 0.9% saline for 10 d. Treatment with AICAR increased (P < 0.05) AMPK activity in semitendinosus muscles (STM). Expression of skeletal muscle specific glucose transporter 4 (GLUT4) was also enhanced (P < 0.05) by AICAR treatment. Using real-time PCR, electrophoresis, and Western blot analyses, we confirmed that AICAR treatment caused a decrease (P < 0.05) in type IIa MyHC isoform mRNA and protein levels and a concomitant increase (P < 0.05) in type IIx MyHC containing fibers. Consistent with a MyHC isoform shift from IIa to IIx, muscles from pigs treated with AICAR had greater (P < 0.05) lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) activity. Moreover, muscle of treated pigs expressed greater (P < 0.05) message for LDH. Administration of AICAR, however, did not alter expression of PPAR-gamma coactivator-1alpha, fatty acid translocase, citrate synthase, or the activity of cytochrome c oxidase. Overall, these results indicate that activation of AMPK by AICAR causes muscle to assume a faster-contracting, more glycolytic nature. These data are in direct contrast to documented effects in rodent models, but these effects may be dependent on the time of administration and the overall growth status of the animal.
authors.affiliation: Department of Animal Sciences, Purdue University, West Lafayette, IN 47907, USA.
authors.forename: S K
authors.initials: SK
authors.lastname: Park
authors.forename: T L
authors.initials: TL
authors.lastname: Sheffler
authors.forename: M E
authors.initials: ME
authors.lastname: Spurlock
authors.forename: A L
authors.initials: AL
authors.lastname: Grant
authors.forename: D E
authors.initials: DE
authors.lastname: Gerrard
mesh_terms: D055372:AMP-Activated Protein Kinases / Q000502:physiology*; D000620:Aminoimidazole Carboxamide / Q000031:analogs & derivatives / Q000494:pharmacology; D000818:Animals; D015153:Blotting, Western / Q000662:veterinary; D002950:Citrate (si)-Synthase / Q000235:genetics / Q000502:physiology; D004789:Enzyme Activation / Q000502:physiology*; D050612:Fatty Acid Transport Proteins / Q000235:genetics / Q000502:physiology; D051275:Glucose Transporter Type 4 / Q000235:genetics / Q000502:physiology; D007004:Hypoglycemic Agents / Q000494:pharmacology; D007770:L-Lactate Dehydrogenase / Q000235:genetics / Q000502:physiology; D008297:Male; D018482:Muscle, Skeletal / Q000201:enzymology / Q000502:physiology*; D018995:Myosin Heavy Chains / Q000235:genetics / Q000502:physiology*; D047495:PPAR gamma / Q000235:genetics / Q000502:physiology; D020033:Protein Isoforms / Q000502:physiology; D012313:RNA / Q000737:chemistry / Q000235:genetics; D011897:Random Allocation; D020133:Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction / Q000662:veterinary; D012265:Ribonucleotides / Q000494:pharmacology; D013552:Swine / Q000502:physiology*
chemical_list: D050612:Fatty Acid Transport Proteins; D051275:Glucose Transporter Type 4; D007004:Hypoglycemic Agents; D047495:PPAR gamma; D020033:Protein Isoforms; D012265:Ribonucleotides; D000620:Aminoimidazole Carboxamide; D012313:RNA; D007770:L-Lactate Dehydrogenase; D002950:Citrate (si)-Synthase; D055372:AMP-Activated Protein Kinases; D018995:Myosin Heavy Chains; C031143:AICA ribonucleotide