An evaluation of fast- and slow-twitch muscle from rats treated with 20,25-diazacholesterol

Skeletal myocyte plasticity: basis for improved therapeutic potential?

Skeletal muscle tissue exhibits a remarkable capacity to regenerate after injury and to adapt its properties in response to altered functional demands or environmental pressure. This potential renders skeletal myocytes especially attractive candidates to be used in therapeutic strategies. Besides the well-described adaptability of skeletal myocytes in terms of contractile function and metabolic profile, more recent research has revealed that the electrophysiological properties of myocytes are also subject to significant changes both under physiological conditions and in pathophysiological situations. A better understanding of skeletal myocyte plasticity, its regulation and its forced induction could improve existing therapeutic approaches and may pave the way for new therapeutic strategies.

Age-dependent expression of the apamin-sensitive calcium-activated K+ channel in fast and slow rat skeletal muscle

An altered expression of the apamin-sensitive K+ channel from skeletal muscle is apparently implicated in human myotonic dystrophy (MD). We found, in rats, that the expression of this channel depends on age and the type of muscle. This result may be one of the bases of the different susceptibilities of fast and slow muscles to drug-induced myotonia.

Intramuscular pH and endurance are abnormal in skeletal muscles from rats with experimental myotonia

The relation between resistance to fatigue and intramuscular pH was studied in fast muscles (anterior tibialis and extensor digitorum longus) from rats treated with 2,4-dichlorophenoxyacetic acid (2,4-D) to induce myotonia. Fatiguability was studied in muscles indirectly stimulated at 30 Hz (330 ms/s; 1 train/s) for 2 min. The resistance to fatigue decreased significantly 1 h after drug treatment and remained low 24 h later. The intramuscular pH was lower than normal in resting muscles from 2,4-D-treated rats. After 2 min of stimulation the pH decreased in both control and drug-treated muscles. However, this decrement was reduced in the experimental muscles. The pH of control and of 2,4-D-treated muscles were similar after the stimulation period, but only the drug-treated muscles were fatigued. Therefore, a decrease in intramuscular pH would not be the cause of the observed decrease in muscle resistance to fatigue after 2,4-D treatment. The reduced endurance of drug-treated muscles could not be attributed to impaired neuromuscular transmission.

Lithium-induced improvement of myotonia

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