Muscle-specificity of age-related changes in markers of autophagy and sphingolipid metabolism.

Our previous findings indicate that the gastrocnemius muscle of aging rats exhibits impairments of muscle quality (force/unit muscle tissue) and autophagy and increased sarcoplasmic reticulum stress. The purpose of this study was to examine age-related changes in soleus muscle contractility and in markers of autophagy in the soleus and gastrocnemius muscles. We assessed in situ muscle force and size in the soleus muscle of adult (7-8 months) and aged (24-26 months) male, F344/BN rats. We used immunoblotting to compare abundance of markers of autophagy, sarcoplasmic reticulum (SR) stress and sphingolipid metabolism in the soleus and medial gastrocnemius (MG) muscles of these animals. Relative to adults, aged rats maintained soleus muscle quality and increased muscle size, resulting in increased tetanic force production. Immunoblotting revealed a general pattern of an age-related reduction of basal autophagy, despite increases in indicators of SR stress and upstream autophagic pathway activation in the MG. The MG also exhibited changes in markers of sphingolipid metabolism suggestive of increased muscle ceramide. Minimal age-related changes were observed in the soleus. The soleus maintains muscle mass and quality with age, and exhibits fewer age-related changes in markers of stress and autophagy than the MG. Based on these data, we suggest that maintenance of autophagy may preserve muscle quality by preventing excessive SR stress.

Dietary HMB and ß-alanine co-supplementation does not improve in situ muscle function in sedentary, aged male rats.

This study evaluated the effects of dietary ß-hydroxy-ß-methylbutyrate (HMB) combined with ß-alanine (ß-Ala) in sedentary, aged male rats. It has been suggested that dietary HMB or ß-Ala supplementation may mitigate age-related declines in muscle strength and fatigue resistance. A total of 20 aged Sprague-Dawley rats were studied. At age 20 months, 10 rats were administered a control, purified diet and 10 rats were administered a purified diet supplemented with both HMB and ß-Ala (HMB+ß-Ala) for 8 weeks (approximately equivalent to 3 and 2.4 g per day human dose). We measured medial gastrocnemius (MG) size, force, fatigability, and myosin composition. We also evaluated an array of protein markers related to muscle mitochondria, protein synthesis and breakdown, and autophagy. HMB+ß-Ala had no significant effects on body weight, MG mass, force or fatigability, myosin composition, or muscle quality. Compared with control rats, those fed HMB+ß-Ala exhibited a reduced (41%, P = 0.039) expression of muscle RING-finger protein 1 (MURF1), a common marker of protein degradation. Muscle from rats fed HMB+ß-Ala also exhibited a 45% reduction (P = 0.023) in p70s6K phosphorylation following fatiguing stimulation. These data suggest that HMB+ß-Ala at the dose studied may reduce muscle protein breakdown by reducing MURF1 expression, but has minimal effects on muscle function in this model of uncomplicated aging. They do not, however, rule out potential benefits of HMB+ß-Ala co-supplementation at other doses or durations of supplementation in combination with exercise or in situations where extreme muscle protein breakdown and loss of mass occur (e.g., bedrest, cachexia, failure-to-thrive).

Weakness, SR function and stress in gastrocnemius muscles of aged male rats.

Aging is associated with a decline in muscle force that exceeds loss of muscle mass, suggesting that factors other than sarcopenia affect age-related muscle weakness. Here, we investigate in situ muscle force and sarcoplasmic reticulum (SR) properties in gastrocnemius muscles of adult (6-8 months) and aged (24 months) rats. Despite minimal loss of muscle mass, peak tetanic force was significantly reduced (-28%) in aged muscles. Adjusting for differences in muscle cross-sectional area mitigated the age difference (-23%), but it remained significant. The SR calcium release function was also impaired (-17%) with aging, although calcium uptake was not, and SR-associated glycogen increased (+30%) with aging. Western blotting revealed age related increases in Grp78, serinepalmitoyltransferase and neutral sphingomyelinase, suggesting that age increased the stress response and ceramide metabolism in the SR. In contrast Parkin, a protein associated with autophagic signaling, was reduced in the aged SR. These findings are consistent with a hypothesis that age-related impairments of the SR, possibly due to impaired autophagy and/or altered membrane metabolism, contribute to age-related muscle weakness, independent of changes in muscle mass.