Effects of oxidation in the power of chemically skinned rat soleus fibres

Abstract

Oxidation alters calcium sensitivity, and decreases maximum isometric force (Po) and shortening velocity (Vmax) of single muscle fibres. To examine the effect of oxidation on the curvature of the force-velocity relationship, which determines muscle power in addition to Po and Vmax, skinned rat type I fibres were maximally activated at 15ºC in a solution with pCa 4.5 and subjected to isotonic contractions before and after 4-min incubation in 50 mM H2O2 (n=10) or normal relaxing solution (n=3). In five oxidised and four control fibres the rate of force redevelopment (ktr), following a rapid release and re-stretch, was measured. This gives a measure of the sum of the rate constants for cross-bridge attachment (f) and detachment (g1): (f+g1). H2O2 reduced Po, Vmax and ktr by 19%, 21% and 24% respectively (P<0.001), while the shape of the force-velocity relationship was unchanged. Fitting data to the Huxley cross-bridge model suggested that oxidation decreased both the rate constant for cross-bridge attachment (f), and detachment of negatively strained cross-bridges (g2), similar to the effect of reduced activation1. This suggests that oxidative modification is a possible cause of the variation in contractile properties between muscle fibres of the same type2.