The fiber-type-specific effect of inactivity and intermittent weight-bearing on the gastrocnemius muscle of 30-month-old rats.

OBJECTIVE

To characterize single skeletal muscle fiber contractile properties from the gastrocnemius muscle that occur during inactivity and intermittent weight-bearing in 30-month-old animals.

DESIGN

Randomized control trial.

SETTING

A controlled laboratory environment.

SUBJECTS

Eighteen 30-month-old male Fisher 344 Brown Norway F1 Hybrid rats were randomly assigned to control (C), hindlimb unweighted (HU), and hindlimb unweighted with intermittent weight-bearing (HU-X) groups.

INTERVENTIONS

The HU and HU-X rats were suspended for 7 days. The HU-X animals were unsuspended for four 15-minute bouts of weight-bearing.

MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES

Single skeletal muscle fiber contractile properties (diameter, peak active force [P0], peak specific tension [P0/CSA], and maximal shortening velocity [V0] by fiber type) were determined from the deep portion of the lateral head of the gastrocnemius muscle (RG).

RESULTS

In comparison to C animals, the ratio of gastrocnemius weight to body weight decreased by 18% and 14% following HU and HU-X, respectively. Diameter and P0 of type I fibers from the RG were reduced after HU. Attenuation of the decline in diameter and P0 was observed in type I fibers from the RG with HU-X. P0 was reduced in type IIa fibers and type I-IIa fibers with HU. Attenuation of the decline in P0 by intermittent weight-bearing in type IIa fibers and type I-IIa fibers did not occur.

CONCLUSIONS

Inactivity altered the contractile properties of single skeletal muscle fibers from the gastrocnemius muscle of 30-month-old animals. The inactivity-induced alterations were present in the three fiber types. Therapeutic intervention of weight-bearing attenuated the inactivity-induced changes in the type I fibers from the gastrocnemius, but not the other fiber types.