Collagen synthesis and proteolytic activities in rat skeletal muscles: effect of cast-immobilization in the lengthened and shortened positions.

The activities of prolyl 4-hydroxylase (PH) and galactosylhydroxylysyl glucosyltransferase (GGT), both enzymes of collagen biosynthesis, were measured in the gastrocnemius, soleus, and tibialis anterior muscles of rats after bilateral cast-immobilization of the muscles in lengthened and shortened positions for one and three weeks. The activities of muscular proteolytic and hydrolytic enzymes cathepsin D (CD), beta-glucuronidase (beta-GU), alkaline protease (AP), and the rate of acid autolysis (AA) were also studied. The biochemical results were compared to the morphologic changes by light microscopy. Compared to the results for a control group, there was a decrease of 37% and 53% in the specific PH activity of shortened gastrocnemius and soleus, respectively, after three weeks of immobilization. The corresponding decrease in GGT of the shortened gastrocnemius was 47%. At the same time, PH and GGT in the lengthened plantarflexors were at the control level. The proteolytic activities of the shortened plantarflexors were generally higher (CD by approximately 30%, beta-GU of gastrocnemius by 81%, AP of soleus by 63%, AA of gastrocnemius by 34%, and AA of soleus by 56%) than those of the lengthened ones. Light microscopy of the shortened muscles showed numerous atrophic fibers, but no pronounced inflammatory response in the disused muscle tissue. The results suggest that increased proteolysis and wasting of muscle tissue during cast-immobilization is associated with adaptive responses in the metabolism of the muscular collagen network.