Desmin cytoskeletal modifications after a bout of eccentric exercise in the rat

Ilona A. Barash, David Peters, Jan Fridén, Gordon J. Lutz, Richard L. Lieber*

*Corresponding author for this work

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

94 Scopus citations

Abstract

Desmin content and immunohistochemical appearance were measured in tibialis anterior muscles of rats subjected to a single bout of 30 eccentric contractions (ECs). Ankle torque was measured before EC and at various recovery times, after which immunohistochemical and immunoblot analyses were performed. Torque decreased by ∼50% immediately after EC and fully recovered 168 h later (P < 0.001). Loss of desmin staining was maximal 12 h after EC and recovered by 72 h. Immunoblots unexpectedly demonstrated a significant increase in the desmin-to-actin ratio by 72 h after EC (P < 0.01) and was still increasing after 168 h (P < 0.0001). These data demonstrate a relatively rapid qualitative loss of desmin immunostaining immediately after a single EC bout but a tremendous quantitative increase in desmin content 72-168 h later. This dynamic restructuring of the muscle's intermediate filament system may be involved in the mechanism of EC-induced muscle injury and may provide a structural explanation for the protective effects observed in muscle after a single EC bout.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Pages (from-to)R958-R963
JournalAmerican Journal of Physiology - Regulatory Integrative and Comparative Physiology
Volume283
Issue number4 52-4
DOIs
StatePublished - Oct 2002

Keywords

  • Biomechanics
  • Calpain
  • Cytoskeleton
  • Intermediate filaments
  • Muscle injury

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • General Medicine

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