Chronic stimulation of mammalian muscle: changes in metabolite concentrations in individual fibers

Am J Physiol. 1988 Oct;255(4 Pt 1):C543-51. doi: 10.1152/ajpcell.1988.255.4.C543.

Abstract

Single fibers were analyzed from rabbit fast-twitch tibialis anterior muscles freeze-clamped during continuous stimulation at 10 Hz for up to 8 wk. ATP declined after 1 wk to a stable level approximately 30% below controls. Phosphocreatine decreased earlier and to a greater extent (approximately 50%). Glycogen varied considerably among stimulated fibers and decreased on average approximately 75% by 8 wk. Glucose, lactate, citrate, and malate had changed little in the first 30 h and then increased four-, two-, four-, and sevenfold, respectively, over the next 5 wk. Glucose 6-phosphate showed the most unexpected behavior: with an overall upward trend, it descended to extremely low values (10% of control) after approximately 1 wk of stimulation. As long as high- and low-oxidative fibers were present, the former showed slightly higher levels of ATP, lactate, and malate; other metabolites did not differ in a consistent way. These unexpected observations, which differ strikingly from data for acute stimulation, shed light on adaptations that enable a chronically stimulated muscle to sustain a continuous high level of ATP utilization.

Publication types

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

MeSH terms

  • Adenine Nucleotides / metabolism
  • Adenosine Triphosphate / metabolism
  • Animals
  • Citrates / metabolism
  • Electric Stimulation
  • Female
  • Glucose / metabolism
  • Glycogen / metabolism
  • L-Lactate Dehydrogenase / metabolism
  • Lactates / metabolism
  • Malate Dehydrogenase / metabolism
  • Malates / metabolism
  • Male
  • Muscles / innervation
  • Muscles / metabolism
  • Muscles / physiology*
  • Peroneal Nerve / physiology
  • Phosphocreatine / metabolism
  • Rabbits

Substances

  • Adenine Nucleotides
  • Citrates
  • Lactates
  • Malates
  • Phosphocreatine
  • Adenosine Triphosphate
  • Glycogen
  • L-Lactate Dehydrogenase
  • Malate Dehydrogenase
  • Glucose