Enhanced satellite cell proliferation with resistance training in elderly men and women.

In addition to the well-documented loss of muscle mass and strength associated with aging, there is evidence for the attenuating effects of aging on the number of satellite cells in human skeletal muscle. The aim of this study was to investigate the response of satellite cells in elderly men and women to 12 weeks of resistance training. Biopsies were collected from the m. vastus lateralis of 13 healthy elderly men and 16 healthy elderly women (mean age 76+/-SD 3 years) before and after the training period. Satellite cells were visualized by immunohistochemical staining of muscle cross-sections with a monoclonal antibody against neural cell adhesion molecule (NCAM) and counterstaining with Mayer's hematoxylin. Compared with the pre-training values, there was a significant increase (P<0.05) in the number of NCAM-positively stained cells per fiber post-training in males (from 0.11+/-0.03 to 0.15+/-0.06; mean+/-SD) and females (from 0.11+/-0.04 to 0.13+/-0.05). These results suggest that 12 weeks of resistance training is effective in enhancing the satellite cell pool in skeletal muscle in the elderly.

Regulation of type IV collagen gene expression and degradation in fast and slow muscles during dexamethasone treatment and exercise.

Glucocorticoids have anti-anabolic effects on many tissues and can cause muscle atrophy. However, their effects on type IV collagen gene expression and degradation in skeletal muscle have not been studied previously. Rats were treated daily with dexamethasone or saline. Half the groups of experimental and control animals were also subjected to daily endurance or uphill running exercise to determine the possible preventive effects of exercise. After an experimental period of 3 or 10 days, the extensor digitorum longus, soleus and tibialis anterior muscles were studied. Dexamethasone treatment for 10 days reduced muscle weight and type IV collagen mRNA abundance in all muscles. Gene expression of matrix metalloproteinase-2 (MMP-2) was decreased in fast muscles. However, the effects of this decrease were possibly attenuated by the simultaneous decrease in the activity of tissue inhibitor of metalloproteinases (TIMP-2). The amount of type IV collagen was not changed during dexamethasone treatment or exercise. The regulation of type IV collagen degradation during dexamethasone treatment varied between slow and fast muscles. Although endurance running prevented muscle atrophy, exercise could not compensate the changes observed in the regulation of type IV collagen gene expression and degradation during dexamethasone treatment.

Physical exercise can influence local levels of matrix metalloproteinases and their inhibitors in tendon-related connective tissue.

Microdialysis studies indicate that mechanical loading of human tendon tissue during exercise or training can affect local synthesis and degradation of type I collagen. Degradation of collagen and other extracellular matrix proteins is controlled by an interplay between matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs) and their tissue inhibitors (TIMPs). However, it is unknown whether local levels of MMPs and TIMPs are affected by tendon loading in humans in vivo. In the present experiment, six healthy young men performed 1 h of uphill (3%) treadmill running. Dialysate was collected from microdialysis probes (placed in the peritendinous tissue immediately anterior to the Achilles tendon) before, immediately after, 1 day after, and 3 days after an exercise bout. MMP-2 and MMP-9 were measured in dialysate by gelatin zymography, and amounts were quantified by densitometry in relation to total protein in the dialysate. TIMP-1 and TIMP-2 were analyzed by reverse gelatin zymography and semiquantitated visually. Pro-MMP-9 increased markedly after exercise and remained high for 3 days after exercise. Pro-MMP-2 dropped from the basal level immediately after exercise and remained low 1 day after exercise but was slightly elevated 3 days after exercise. The MMP-2 inhibitory activity of TIMP-1 was clearly elevated 1 and 3 days after exercise, and the MMP-2 inhibitory activity of TIMP-2 rose 1 day after loading. The present findings demonstrate enhanced interstitial amounts of MMPs and TIMPs after exercise in the human peritendinous tissue in vivo, and the magnitude and time pattern of these changes may well indicate that MMPs and TIMPs are playing a role in extracellular matrix adaptation to exercise in tendon tissue.

Synthesis and degradation of type IV collagen in rat skeletal muscle during immobilization in shortened and lengthened positions.

AIM: Type IV collagen is a major protein in basement membranes surrounding and supporting skeletal muscle cells. In the present study, we tested the hypotheses that immobilization down-regulates synthesis and up-regulates degradation of type IV collagen in skeletal muscle. METHODS: mRNA level and concentration of type IV collagen as well as mRNA levels and activities of proteins involved in its degradation were analysed from soleus (SOL), gastrocnemius (GAS) and extensor digitorum longus muscles after immobilization in shortened and lengthened positions for 1, 3 and 7 days. RESULTS: Following immobilization, type IV collagen mRNA level was decreased in SOL and GAS suggesting down-regulated synthesis of this protein. The mRNA level and activity of matrix metalloproteinase-2 (proMMP-2) were increased in all muscles, while the activity of tissue inhibitor of metalloproteinase-2 was decreased in SOL and GAS. These findings reflect an increased capacity for degradation of type IV collagen. CONCLUSIONS: As a consequence of decreased synthesis/degradation ratio immobilization reduced the concentration of type IV collagen in all muscles. The regulation of type IV collagen through synthesis and/or degradation seems, however, to be muscle specific. Immobilization in lengthened position seems to delay and partly decrease the net degradation of type IV collagen.