Reduction-oxidation state and protein degradation in skeletal muscles of growing rats.

The relationship between the NAD redox state and protein degradation during growth was studied in isolated soleus and extensor digitorum longus muscles of 4- to 14-week-old rats. As muscle size increased with age, protein breakdown slowed and the muscles became progressively more reduced as shown by higher ratios of lactate/pyruvate in incubated and fresh-frozen muscle. Correlations were strong between redox state of protein degradation, and muscle mass, and between redox state and protein degradation. This relationship may be important in the slowing of muscle breakdown that occurs with age.