Calcium leak of sarcoplasmic reticulum induces degradation of troponin I in skeletal muscle fibers / 生理学报

ABSTRACT

The troponin I subunit (TnI) was used as a molecular marker to explore the relationship between the resting intracellular Ca(2+) concentration and myofibril degradation in muscle fibers. The isolated soleus muscle strips of rats were treated by caffeine and H2O2. Caffeine is an opener to increase the calcium release channel open probability of sarcoplasmic reticulum (SR) in contraction phase. H2O2 induces a calcium leak of SR calcium release channel in relaxation phase. The expression and degradation of TnI were detected by Western blot. The resting tension of tetanic contraction and expression of TnI were not changed, but the developed tension was lowered in isolated soleus muscle strips during 40 min of calcium-free Krebs perfusion. Low concentrations of caffeine (1 and 5 mmol/L) perfusion induced a transient increase in resting tension during fatigue period, but did not alter the extent of fatigue, recovery rate after fatigue and expression of TnI in muscle strips. High concentration of caffeine (10 mmol/L) perfusion induced a progressive increase in resting tension, a higher rate of fatigue and a decrease in recovery rate after fatigue in muscle strips. There was a detectable degradation of TnI in soleus after 10 mmol/L caffeine treatment. H2O2 perfusion facilitated a progressive increase in resting tension in a dose-dependent manner, but did not influence the fatigue rate of tetanic contraction. The recovery rate after fatigue showed a quick resumption before decline during H2O2 perfusion. Degradation of TnI occurred in 5 and 10 mmol/L H2O2-treated soleus muscles. Since resting tension is dependent on intracellular Ca(2+) concentration, the above-mentioned results suggest that SR Ca(2+) leakage in relaxation phase may induce a degradation of TnI in skeletal muscle fibers.