Treatment with EUK-134 improves sarcoplasmic reticulum Ca release but not myofibrillar Ca sensitivity after fatiguing contraction of rat fast-twitch muscle.

Skeletal muscles undergoing vigorous activity can enter a state of prolonged low-frequency force depression (PLFFD). This study was conducted to examine whether antioxidant treatment is capable of accelerating the recovery from PLFFD, with a focus on the function of the sarcoplasmic reticulum (SR) and myofibril. One hour before fatiguing stimulation (FS) was administered, rats received an intraperitoneal injection of Eukarion (EUK-134), which mimics the activities of superoxide dismutase and catalase. Intact muscles of the hindlimbs were electrically stimulated via the sciatic nerve until the force was reduced to ~50% of the initial force (FS). Thirty minutes after cessation of FS, the superficial regions of gastrocnemius muscles were dissected and used for biochemical and skinned-fiber analyses. Whole muscle analyses revealed that antioxidant alleviated the FS-induced decrease in the reduced glutathione content. Skinned-fiber analyses showed that the antioxidant did not affect the FS-induced decrease in the ratio of force at 1 Hz to that at 50 Hz. However, the antioxidant partially inhibited the FS-mediated decrease in the ratio of depolarization-induced force to the maximum Ca-activated force. Furthermore, the antioxidant completely suppressed the FS-induced increase in myofibrillar Ca sensitivity. These results suggest that antioxidant treatment is ineffective in facilitating the restoration of PLFFD, probably due to its negative effect on myofibrillar Ca sensitivity, which supersedes its positive effect on SR Ca release.