Effects of microgravity and tail suspension on enzymes of individual soleus and tibialis anterior fibers

J Appl Physiol (1985). 1992 Aug;73(2 Suppl):66S-73S. doi: 10.1152/jappl.1992.73.2.S66.

Abstract

Selected enzymes of energy metabolism were measured in random individual fibers of soleus and tibialis anterior (TA) muscles from rats exposed for 2 wk to spaceflight (F) aboard COSMOS 2044 or tail suspension (T) and from synchronous controls. Average size of soleus fibers (dry weight per unit length) was reduced 37% in F and T fibers; there was little change in TA fibers. Enzyme changes were more pronounced in soleus than in TA fibers. Three enzymes characteristic of fast-twitch muscles, pyruvate kinase, glycerol-3-phosphate dehydrogenase, and 1-phosphofructokinase, were elevated in F and T soleus fibers, but changes in phosphofructokinase were not statistically significant. 3-Ketoacid-CoA transferase, characteristic of slow-twitch muscles, did not change significantly in either F or T fibers. Hexokinase, usually moderately higher in slow- than in fast-twitch muscles, increased markedly in both F and T fibers. In TA fibers analyzed for hexokinase, malate dehydrogenase, phosphohexoisomerase, and pyruvate kinase, only hexokinase and malate dehydrogenase showed significant changes. Hexokinase increased 83% in one of two T muscles. Enzyme data for TA fibers typed by myosin adenosinetriphosphatase were more informative: phosphofructokinase, phosphorylase, and glycerol-3-phosphate dehydrogenase were increased in type IIb fibers of either F or T muscles or both. Malate dehydrogenase was not changed in fibers of any type in either F or T muscle.

Publication types

  • Research Support, U.S. Gov't, Non-P.H.S.
  • Research Support, U.S. Gov't, P.H.S.

MeSH terms

  • Adenosine Triphosphatases / metabolism
  • Animals
  • Energy Metabolism / drug effects
  • Hexokinase / metabolism
  • In Vitro Techniques
  • Malate Dehydrogenase / metabolism
  • Male
  • Muscles / cytology
  • Muscles / enzymology*
  • Muscles / physiology
  • Pyruvate Kinase / metabolism
  • Rats
  • Rats, Inbred Strains
  • Space Flight
  • Tail / physiology*
  • Weightlessness / adverse effects*

Substances

  • Malate Dehydrogenase
  • Hexokinase
  • Pyruvate Kinase
  • Adenosine Triphosphatases