title: Muscular senescence in cetaceans: adaptation towards a slow muscle fibre phenotype.
abstract: Sarcopenia, or senile muscle atrophy, is the slow and progressive loss of muscle mass with advancing age that constitutes the most prevalent form of muscle atrophy. The effects of ageing on skeletal muscle have been extensively studied in humans and laboratory animals (mice), while the few reports on wild animals are based on short-lived mammals. The present study describes the age-related changes in cetacean muscles regarding the three factors that determine muscle mass: fibre size, fibre number, and fibre type. We show that the skeletal muscle fibres in cetaceans change with advancing age, evolving towards a slower muscle phenotype. We suggest that this physiological evolution constitutes an adaptation that allows these marine mammals to perform prolonged, deep dives.
authors: Department of Veterinary Pathology, Institute of Animal Health, Veterinary School, Universidad de Las Palmas de Gran Canaria, Trasmontaña S/N, 35416 Arucas, Las Palmas, Spain. esierra@becarios.ulpgc.es
authors: Eva
authors: E
authors: Sierra
authors: Antonio
authors: A
authors: Fernández
authors: Antonio Espinosa
authors: AE
authors: de los Monteros
authors: Manuel
authors: M
authors: Arbelo
authors: Yara Bernaldo
authors: YB
authors: de Quirós
authors: Pedro
authors: P
authors: Herráez
mesh_terms: D000222:Adaptation, Physiological / Q000502:physiology*; D000375:Aging / Q000378:metabolism / Q000502:physiology*; D000818:Animals; D002591:Cetacea / Q000378:metabolism / Q000502:physiology*; D018657:Muscle Fibers, Slow-Twitch / Q000378:metabolism / Q000502:physiology*; D018482:Muscle, Skeletal / Q000378:metabolism / Q000502:physiology; D010641:Phenotype; D055948:Sarcopenia / Q000378:metabolism
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