1
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Hunter SK, Senefeld JW. Sex differences in human performance. J Physiol 2024; 602:4129-4156. [PMID: 39106346 DOI: 10.1113/jp284198] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/30/2023] [Accepted: 07/08/2024] [Indexed: 08/09/2024] Open
Abstract
Sex as a biological variable is an underappreciated aspect of biomedical research, with its importance emerging in more recent years. This review assesses the current understanding of sex differences in human physical performance. Males outperform females in many physical capacities because they are faster, stronger and more powerful, particularly after male puberty. This review highlights key sex differences in physiological and anatomical systems (generally conferred via sex steroids and puberty) that contribute to these sex differences in human physical performance. Specifically, we address the effects of the primary sex steroids that affect human physical development, discuss insight gained from an observational study of 'real-world data' and elite athletes, and highlight the key physiological mechanisms that contribute to sex differences in several aspects of physical performance. Physiological mechanisms discussed include those for the varying magnitude of the sex differences in performance involving: (1) absolute muscular strength and power; (2) fatigability of limb muscles as a measure of relative performance; and (3) maximal aerobic power and endurance. The profound sex-based differences in human performance involving strength, power, speed and endurance, and that are largely attributable to the direct and indirect effects of sex-steroid hormones, sex chromosomes and epigenetics, provide a scientific rationale and framework for policy decisions on sex-based categories in sports during puberty and adulthood. Finally, we highlight the sex bias and problem in human performance research of insufficient studies and information on females across many areas of biology and physiology, creating knowledge gaps and opportunities for high-impact studies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sandra K Hunter
- Movement Science Program, School of Kinesiology, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, Michigan, USA
| | - Jonathon W Senefeld
- Department of Kinesiology and Community Health, University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign, Urbana, Illinois, USA
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2
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Mashouri P, Saboune J, Pyle WG, Power GA. Effects of chemically induced ovarian failure on single muscle fiber contractility in a mouse model of menopause. Maturitas 2024; 180:107885. [PMID: 38061310 DOI: 10.1016/j.maturitas.2023.107885] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/03/2023] [Revised: 10/15/2023] [Accepted: 10/31/2023] [Indexed: 01/13/2024]
Abstract
OBJECTIVE Menopause is associated with impaired skeletal muscle contractile function. The temporal and mechanistic bases of this dysfunction are unknown. Using a mouse model of menopause, we identified how gradual ovarian failure affects single muscle fiber contractility. STUDY DESIGN Ovarian failure was chemically induced over 120 days, representing the perimenopausal transition. Mice were sacrificed and soleus and extensor digitorum longus muscles were dissected and chemically permeabilized for single fiber mechanical testing. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES Muscle fiber contractility was assessed via force, rate of force redevelopment, instantaneous stiffness, and calcium sensitivity. RESULTS Peak force and cross-sectional area of the soleus were, respectively, ~33 % and ~24 % greater following ovarian failure compared with controls (p < 0.05) with no differences in force produced by the extensor digitorum longus across groups (p > 0.05). Upon normalizing force to cross-sectional area there were no differences across groups (p > 0.05). Following ovarian failure, rate of force redevelopment of single fibers from the soleus was ~33 % faster compared with controls. There was no shift in the midpoint of the force‑calcium curve between groups or muscles (p > 0.05). However, following ovarian failure, Type I fibers from the soleus had a higher calcium sensitivity between pCa values of 4.5 and 6.2 compared with controls (p < 0.05), with no differences for Type II fibers or the extensor digitorum longus (p > 0.05). CONCLUSIONS In our model of menopause, alterations to muscle contractility were less evident than in ovariectomized models. This divergence across models highlights the importance of better approximating the natural trajectory of menopause during and after the transitional phase of ovarian failure on neuromuscular function.
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Affiliation(s)
- Parastoo Mashouri
- Department of Human Health and Nutritional Sciences, College of Biological Sciences, University of Guelph, 50 Stone Road East, Guelph, Ontario, Canada.
| | - Jinan Saboune
- IMPART Team Canada, Dalhousie Medicine, Dalhousie University, Saint John, New Brunswick, Canada; Laboratory of Molecular Cardiology, Department of Biomedical Sciences, University of Guelph, Guelph, Ontario, Canada.
| | - W Glen Pyle
- IMPART Team Canada, Dalhousie Medicine, Dalhousie University, Saint John, New Brunswick, Canada; Laboratory of Molecular Cardiology, Department of Biomedical Sciences, University of Guelph, Guelph, Ontario, Canada.
| | - Geoffrey A Power
- Department of Human Health and Nutritional Sciences, College of Biological Sciences, University of Guelph, 50 Stone Road East, Guelph, Ontario, Canada.
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3
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Hunter SK, S Angadi S, Bhargava A, Harper J, Hirschberg AL, D Levine B, L Moreau K, J Nokoff N, Stachenfeld NS, Bermon S. The Biological Basis of Sex Differences in Athletic Performance: Consensus Statement for the American College of Sports Medicine. Med Sci Sports Exerc 2023; 55:2328-2360. [PMID: 37772882 DOI: 10.1249/mss.0000000000003300] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 09/30/2023]
Abstract
ABSTRACT Biological sex is a primary determinant of athletic performance because of fundamental sex differences in anatomy and physiology dictated by sex chromosomes and sex hormones. Adult men are typically stronger, more powerful, and faster than women of similar age and training status. Thus, for athletic events and sports relying on endurance, muscle strength, speed, and power, males typically outperform females by 10%-30% depending on the requirements of the event. These sex differences in performance emerge with the onset of puberty and coincide with the increase in endogenous sex steroid hormones, in particular testosterone in males, which increases 30-fold by adulthood, but remains low in females. The primary goal of this consensus statement is to provide the latest scientific knowledge and mechanisms for the sex differences in athletic performance. This review highlights the differences in anatomy and physiology between males and females that are primary determinants of the sex differences in athletic performance and in response to exercise training, and the role of sex steroid hormones (particularly testosterone and estradiol). We also identify historical and nonphysiological factors that influence the sex differences in performance. Finally, we identify gaps in the knowledge of sex differences in athletic performance and the underlying mechanisms, providing substantial opportunities for high-impact studies. A major step toward closing the knowledge gap is to include more and equitable numbers of women to that of men in mechanistic studies that determine any of the sex differences in response to an acute bout of exercise, exercise training, and athletic performance.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sandra K Hunter
- Exercise Science Program, Department of Physical Therapy, and Athletic and Human Performance Center, Marquette University, Milwaukee, WI
| | | | - Aditi Bhargava
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Center for Reproductive Sciences, University of California, San Francisco, CA
| | - Joanna Harper
- Loughborough University, Loughborough, UNITED KINGDOM
| | - Angelica Lindén Hirschberg
- Department of Women's and Children's Health, Karolinska Institutet, and Department of Gynecology and Reproductive Medicine, Karolinska University Hospital, Stockholm, SWEDEN
| | - Benjamin D Levine
- Institute for Exercise and Environmental Medicine, Texas Health Presbyterian Hospital Dallas, and the Department of Internal Medicine, Division of Cardiology, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, TX
| | - Kerrie L Moreau
- Department of Medicine, Division of Geriatric Medicine, University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus, and Eastern Colorado Health Care System, Geriatric Research Education and Clinical Center, Aurora, CO
| | - Natalie J Nokoff
- Department of Pediatrics, Section of Endocrinology, University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus, Aurora, CO
| | - Nina S Stachenfeld
- The John B. Pierce Laboratory and Department of Obstetrics, Gynecology and Reproductive Sciences, Yale School of Medicine, New Haven, CT
| | - Stéphane Bermon
- Health and Science Department, World Athletics, Monaco and the LAMHESS, University Côte d'Azur, Nice, FRANCE
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Wrucke DJ, Kuplic A, Adam M, Hunter SK, Sundberg CW. Neural and muscular contributions to the age-related loss in power of the knee extensors in men and women. BIORXIV : THE PREPRINT SERVER FOR BIOLOGY 2023:2023.10.24.563851. [PMID: 37961177 PMCID: PMC10634815 DOI: 10.1101/2023.10.24.563851] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/15/2023]
Abstract
The mechanisms for the loss in limb muscle power in old (60-79 years) and very old (≥80 years) adults and whether the mechanisms differ between men and women are not well-understood. We compared maximal power of the knee extensor muscles between young, old, and very old men and women and identified the neural and muscular factors contributing to the age-related loss of power. 31 young (22.9±3.0 years, 15 women), 83 old (70.4±4.9 years, 39 women), and 16 very old adults (85.8±4.2 years, 9 women) performed maximal isokinetic contractions at 14 different velocities (30-450°/s) to identify peak power. Voluntary activation (VA) and contractile properties were assessed with transcranial magnetic stimulation to the motor cortex and electrical stimulation of the femoral nerve. The age-related loss in power was ~6.5 W·year-1 for men (R2=0.62, p<0.001), which was a greater rate of decline (p=0.002) than the ~4.2 W·year-1 for women (R2=0.77, p<0.001). Contractile properties were the most closely associated variables with power output for both sexes, such as the rate of torque development of the potentiated twitch (men: R2=0.69, p<0.001; women: R2=0.57, p<0.001). VA was weakly associated with power in women (R2=0.13, p=0.012) but not men (p=0.191), whereas neuromuscular activation (EMG amplitude) during the maximal power contraction was not associated with power in men (p=0.347) or women (p=0.106). These data suggest that the age-related loss in power of the knee extensor muscles is due primarily to factors within the muscle for both sexes, although neural factors may play a minor role in older women.
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Affiliation(s)
- David J. Wrucke
- Exercise and Rehabilitation Sciences Program, Department of Physical Therapy, Marquette University, Milwaukee, WI, USA
| | - Andrew Kuplic
- Exercise and Rehabilitation Sciences Program, Department of Physical Therapy, Marquette University, Milwaukee, WI, USA
| | - Mitchell Adam
- Exercise and Rehabilitation Sciences Program, Department of Physical Therapy, Marquette University, Milwaukee, WI, USA
| | - Sandra K. Hunter
- Exercise and Rehabilitation Sciences Program, Department of Physical Therapy, Marquette University, Milwaukee, WI, USA
- Athletic and Human Performance Research Center, Marquette University, Milwaukee, WI, USA
| | - Christopher W. Sundberg
- Exercise and Rehabilitation Sciences Program, Department of Physical Therapy, Marquette University, Milwaukee, WI, USA
- Athletic and Human Performance Research Center, Marquette University, Milwaukee, WI, USA
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5
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Momenzadeh A, Jiang Y, Kreimer S, Teigen LE, Zepeda CS, Haghani A, Mastali M, Song Y, Hutton A, Parker SJ, Van Eyk JE, Sundberg CW, Meyer JG. A Complete Workflow for High Throughput Human Single Skeletal Muscle Fiber Proteomics. JOURNAL OF THE AMERICAN SOCIETY FOR MASS SPECTROMETRY 2023; 34:1858-1867. [PMID: 37463334 PMCID: PMC11135628 DOI: 10.1021/jasms.3c00072] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 07/20/2023]
Abstract
Skeletal muscle is a major regulatory tissue of whole-body metabolism and is composed of a diverse mixture of cell (fiber) types. Aging and several diseases differentially affect the various fiber types, and therefore, investigating the changes in the proteome in a fiber-type specific manner is essential. Recent breakthroughs in isolated single muscle fiber proteomics have started to reveal heterogeneity among fibers. However, existing procedures are slow and laborious, requiring 2 h of mass spectrometry time per single muscle fiber; 50 fibers would take approximately 4 days to analyze. Thus, to capture the high variability in fibers both within and between individuals requires advancements in high throughput single muscle fiber proteomics. Here we use a single cell proteomics method to enable quantification of single muscle fiber proteomes in 15 min total instrument time. As proof of concept, we present data from 53 isolated skeletal muscle fibers obtained from two healthy individuals analyzed in 13.25 h. Adapting single cell data analysis techniques to integrate the data, we can reliably separate type 1 and 2A fibers. Ninety-four proteins were statistically different between clusters indicating alteration of proteins involved in fatty acid oxidation, oxidative phosphorylation, and muscle structure and contractile function. Our results indicate that this method is significantly faster than prior single fiber methods in both data collection and sample preparation while maintaining sufficient proteome depth. We anticipate this assay will enable future studies of single muscle fibers across hundreds of individuals, which has not been possible previously due to limitations in throughput.
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Affiliation(s)
- Amanda Momenzadeh
- Department of Computational Biomedicine, Cedars Sinai Medical Center, Los Angeles, California 90069, United States
- Advanced Clinical Biosystems Research Institute, Cedars Sinai Medical Center, Los Angeles, California 90048, United States
- Smidt Heart Institute, Cedars Sinai Medical Center, Los Angeles, California 90048, United States
| | - Yuming Jiang
- Department of Computational Biomedicine, Cedars Sinai Medical Center, Los Angeles, California 90069, United States
- Advanced Clinical Biosystems Research Institute, Cedars Sinai Medical Center, Los Angeles, California 90048, United States
- Smidt Heart Institute, Cedars Sinai Medical Center, Los Angeles, California 90048, United States
| | - Simion Kreimer
- Advanced Clinical Biosystems Research Institute, Cedars Sinai Medical Center, Los Angeles, California 90048, United States
- Smidt Heart Institute, Cedars Sinai Medical Center, Los Angeles, California 90048, United States
| | - Laura E Teigen
- Department of Physical Therapy, Marquette University, Milwaukee, Wisconsin 53233, United States
| | - Carlos S Zepeda
- Department of Physical Therapy, Marquette University, Milwaukee, Wisconsin 53233, United States
| | - Ali Haghani
- Advanced Clinical Biosystems Research Institute, Cedars Sinai Medical Center, Los Angeles, California 90048, United States
- Smidt Heart Institute, Cedars Sinai Medical Center, Los Angeles, California 90048, United States
- Department of Physical Therapy, Marquette University, Milwaukee, Wisconsin 53233, United States
| | - Mitra Mastali
- Advanced Clinical Biosystems Research Institute, Cedars Sinai Medical Center, Los Angeles, California 90048, United States
- Smidt Heart Institute, Cedars Sinai Medical Center, Los Angeles, California 90048, United States
| | - Yang Song
- Advanced Clinical Biosystems Research Institute, Cedars Sinai Medical Center, Los Angeles, California 90048, United States
- Smidt Heart Institute, Cedars Sinai Medical Center, Los Angeles, California 90048, United States
| | - Alexandre Hutton
- Department of Computational Biomedicine, Cedars Sinai Medical Center, Los Angeles, California 90069, United States
- Advanced Clinical Biosystems Research Institute, Cedars Sinai Medical Center, Los Angeles, California 90048, United States
- Smidt Heart Institute, Cedars Sinai Medical Center, Los Angeles, California 90048, United States
| | - Sarah J Parker
- Advanced Clinical Biosystems Research Institute, Cedars Sinai Medical Center, Los Angeles, California 90048, United States
- Smidt Heart Institute, Cedars Sinai Medical Center, Los Angeles, California 90048, United States
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, Cedars Sinai Medical Center, Los Angeles, California 90048, United States
| | - Jennifer E Van Eyk
- Advanced Clinical Biosystems Research Institute, Cedars Sinai Medical Center, Los Angeles, California 90048, United States
- Smidt Heart Institute, Cedars Sinai Medical Center, Los Angeles, California 90048, United States
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, Cedars Sinai Medical Center, Los Angeles, California 90048, United States
| | - Christopher W Sundberg
- Department of Physical Therapy, Marquette University, Milwaukee, Wisconsin 53233, United States
- Athletic and Human Performance Research Center, Marquette University, Milwaukee, Wisconsin 53233, United States
| | - Jesse G Meyer
- Department of Computational Biomedicine, Cedars Sinai Medical Center, Los Angeles, California 90069, United States
- Advanced Clinical Biosystems Research Institute, Cedars Sinai Medical Center, Los Angeles, California 90048, United States
- Smidt Heart Institute, Cedars Sinai Medical Center, Los Angeles, California 90048, United States
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6
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Leijding C, Viken I, Bruton JD, Andersson DC, Cheng AJ, Westerblad H. Increased tetanic calcium in early fatigue of mammalian muscle fibers is accompanied by accelerated force development despite a decreased force. FASEB J 2023; 37:e22978. [PMID: 37191967 DOI: 10.1096/fj.202300401r] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/03/2023] [Revised: 04/18/2023] [Accepted: 05/05/2023] [Indexed: 05/17/2023]
Abstract
During the initial phase of fatigue induced by repeated contractions in fast-twitch muscle fibers, tetanic force decreases despite increasing tetanic free cytosolic [Ca2+ ] ([Ca2+ ]cyt ). Here, we hypothesized that the increase in tetanic [Ca2+ ]cyt nevertheless has positive effects on force in early fatigue. Experiments on enzymatically isolated mouse flexor digitorum brevis (FDB) fibers showed that an increase in tetanic [Ca2+ ]cyt during ten 350 ms contractions required trains of electrical pulses to be elicited at short intervals (≤2 s) and at high frequencies (≥70 Hz). Mechanically dissected mouse FDB fibers showed greater decrease in tetanic force when the stimulation frequency during contractions was gradually reduced to prevent the increase in tetanic [Ca2+ ]cyt . Novel analyses of data from previous studies revealed an increased rate of force development in the tenth fatiguing contraction in mouse FDB fibers, as well as in rat FDB and human intercostal fibers. Mouse FDB fibers deficient in creatine kinase showed no increase in tetanic [Ca2+ ]cyt and slowed force development in the tenth contraction; after injection of creatine kinase to enable phosphocreatine breakdown, these fibers showed an increase in tetanic [Ca2+ ]cyt and accelerated force development. Mouse FDB fibers exposed to ten short contractions (43 ms) produced at short intervals (142 ms) showed increased tetanic [Ca2+ ]cyt accompanied by a marked (~16%) increase in the developed force. In conclusion, the increase in tetanic [Ca2+ ]cyt in early fatigue is accompanied by accelerated force development, which under some circumstances can counteract the decline in physical performance caused by the concomitant decrease in maximum force.
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Affiliation(s)
- Cecilia Leijding
- Department of Physiology and Pharmacology, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Ida Viken
- Department of Physiology and Pharmacology, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Joseph D Bruton
- Department of Physiology and Pharmacology, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Daniel C Andersson
- Department of Physiology and Pharmacology, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden
- Heart, Vascular and Neurology Theme, Cardiology Unit, Karolinska University Hospital, Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Arthur J Cheng
- Department of Physiology and Pharmacology, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Håkan Westerblad
- Department of Physiology and Pharmacology, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden
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7
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Lim JY, Frontera WR. Skeletal muscle aging and sarcopenia: Perspectives from mechanical studies of single permeabilized muscle fibers. J Biomech 2023; 152:111559. [PMID: 37027961 PMCID: PMC10164716 DOI: 10.1016/j.jbiomech.2023.111559] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/20/2023] [Accepted: 03/21/2023] [Indexed: 03/29/2023]
Abstract
The decline in muscle mass and strength with age is well documented and associated with weakness, decreased flexibility, vulnerability to diseases and/or injuries, and impaired functional restoration. The term sarcopenia has been used to refer to the loss of muscle mass, strength and impaired physical performance with advanced adult age and recently has become a major clinical entity in a super-aged society. To understand the pathophysiology and clinical manifestations of sarcopenia, it is essential to explore the age-related changes in the intrinsic properties of muscle fibers. Mechanical experiments with single muscle fibers have been conducted during the last 80 years and applied to human muscle research in the last 45 years as an in-vitro muscle function test. Fundamental active and passive mechanical properties of skeletal muscle can be evaluated using the isolated permeabilized (chemically skinned) single muscle fiber preparation. Changes in the intrinsic properties of older human single muscle fibers can be useful biomarkers of aging and sarcopenia. In this review, we summarize the historical development of single muscle fiber mechanical studies, the definition and diagnosis of muscle aging and sarcopenia, and age-related change of active and passive mechanical properties in single muscle fibers and discuss how these changes can be used to assess muscle aging and sarcopenia.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jae-Young Lim
- Department of Rehabilitation Medicine, Seoul National University Bundang Hospital, Seoul National University College of Medicine, Seongnam-si Gyeonggi-do, South Korea
| | - Walter R Frontera
- Department of Physiology and Department of Physical Medicine, Rehabilitation, and Sports Medicine, University of Puerto Rico School of Medicine, San Juan, Puerto Rico.
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Dalton BE, Mazara N, Debenham MIB, Zwambag DP, Noonan AM, Weersink E, Brown SHM, Power GA. The relationship between single muscle fibre and voluntary rate of force development in young and old males. Eur J Appl Physiol 2023; 123:821-832. [PMID: 36484861 DOI: 10.1007/s00421-022-05111-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/13/2022] [Accepted: 12/01/2022] [Indexed: 12/14/2022]
Abstract
PURPOSE It is suggested that the early phase (< 50 ms) of force development during a muscle contraction is associated with intrinsic contractile properties, while the late phase (> 50 ms) is associated with maximal force. There are no direct investigations of single muscle fibre rate of force development (RFD) as related to joint-level RFD METHODS: Sixteen healthy, young (n = 8; 26.4 ± 1.5 yrs) and old (n = 8; 70.1 ± 2.8 yrs) males performed maximal voluntary isometric contractions (MVC) and electrically evoked twitches of the knee extensors to assess RFD. Then, percutaneous muscle biopsies were taken from the vastus lateralis and chemically permeabilized, to assess single fibre function. RESULTS At the joint level, older males were ~ 30% weaker and had ~ 43% and ~ 40% lower voluntary RFD values at 0-100 and 0-200 ms, respectively, than the younger ones (p ≤ 0.05). MVC torque was related to every voluntary RFD epoch in the young (p ≤ 0.001), but only the 0-200 ms epoch in the old (p ≤ 0.005). Twitch RFD was ~ 32% lower in the old compared to young (p < 0.05). There was a strong positive relationship between twitch RFD and voluntary RFD during the earliest time epochs in the young (≤ 100 ms; p ≤ 0.01). While single fibre RFD was unrelated to joint-level RFD in the young, older adults trended (p = 0.052-0.055) towards significant relationships between joint-level RTD and Type I single fibre RFD at the 0-30 ms (r2 = 0.48) and 0-50 ms (r2 = 0.49) time epochs. CONCLUSION Electrically evoked twitches are good predictors of early voluntary RFD in young, but not older adults. Only the older adults showed a potential relationship between single fibre (Type I) and joint-level rate of force development.
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Affiliation(s)
- Benjamin E Dalton
- Neuromechanical Performance Research Laboratory, Department of Human Health and Nutritional Sciences, College of Biological Sciences, University of Guelph, 50 Stone Road East, Guelph, ON, Canada
| | - Nicole Mazara
- Neuromechanical Performance Research Laboratory, Department of Human Health and Nutritional Sciences, College of Biological Sciences, University of Guelph, 50 Stone Road East, Guelph, ON, Canada
- Faculty of Education, School of Kinesiology, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC, Canada
| | - Mathew I B Debenham
- Neuromechanical Performance Research Laboratory, Department of Human Health and Nutritional Sciences, College of Biological Sciences, University of Guelph, 50 Stone Road East, Guelph, ON, Canada
- School of Health and Exercise Science, University of British Columbia, Kelowna, BC, Canada
| | - Derek P Zwambag
- Neuromechanical Performance Research Laboratory, Department of Human Health and Nutritional Sciences, College of Biological Sciences, University of Guelph, 50 Stone Road East, Guelph, ON, Canada
| | - Alex M Noonan
- Neuromechanical Performance Research Laboratory, Department of Human Health and Nutritional Sciences, College of Biological Sciences, University of Guelph, 50 Stone Road East, Guelph, ON, Canada
| | - Erin Weersink
- Sports Medicine Clinic, Health and Performance Centre, University of Guelph, 50 Stone Road East, Guelph, ON, Canada
| | - Stephen H M Brown
- Neuromechanical Performance Research Laboratory, Department of Human Health and Nutritional Sciences, College of Biological Sciences, University of Guelph, 50 Stone Road East, Guelph, ON, Canada
| | - Geoffrey A Power
- Neuromechanical Performance Research Laboratory, Department of Human Health and Nutritional Sciences, College of Biological Sciences, University of Guelph, 50 Stone Road East, Guelph, ON, Canada.
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9
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Momenzadeh A, Jiang Y, Kreimer S, Teigen LE, Zepeda CS, Haghani A, Mastali M, Song Y, Hutton A, Parker SJ, Van Eyk JE, Sundberg CW, Meyer JG. Complete Workflow for High Throughput Human Single Skeletal Muscle Fiber Proteomics. BIORXIV : THE PREPRINT SERVER FOR BIOLOGY 2023:2023.02.23.529600. [PMID: 36865126 PMCID: PMC9980124 DOI: 10.1101/2023.02.23.529600] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/14/2023]
Abstract
Skeletal muscle is a major regulatory tissue of whole-body metabolism and is composed of a diverse mixture of cell (fiber) types. Aging and several diseases differentially affect the various fiber types, and therefore, investigating the changes in the proteome in a fiber-type specific manner is essential. Recent breakthroughs in isolated single muscle fiber proteomics have started to reveal heterogeneity among fibers. However, existing procedures are slow and laborious requiring two hours of mass spectrometry time per single muscle fiber; 50 fibers would take approximately four days to analyze. Thus, to capture the high variability in fibers both within and between individuals requires advancements in high throughput single muscle fiber proteomics. Here we use a single cell proteomics method to enable quantification of single muscle fiber proteomes in 15 minutes total instrument time. As proof of concept, we present data from 53 isolated skeletal muscle fibers obtained from two healthy individuals analyzed in 13.25 hours. Adapting single cell data analysis techniques to integrate the data, we can reliably separate type 1 and 2A fibers. Sixty-five proteins were statistically different between clusters indicating alteration of proteins involved in fatty acid oxidation, muscle structure and regulation. Our results indicate that this method is significantly faster than prior single fiber methods in both data collection and sample preparation while maintaining sufficient proteome depth. We anticipate this assay will enable future studies of single muscle fibers across hundreds of individuals, which has not been possible previously due to limitations in throughput.
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Affiliation(s)
- Amanda Momenzadeh
- Department of Computational Biomedicine, Cedars Sinai Medical Center, Los Angeles, California, USA
- Advanced Clinical Biosystems Research Institute, Cedars Sinai Medical Center, Los Angeles, California, USA
- Smidt Heart Institute, Cedars Sinai Medical Center, Los Angeles, California, USA
| | - Yuming Jiang
- Department of Computational Biomedicine, Cedars Sinai Medical Center, Los Angeles, California, USA
- Advanced Clinical Biosystems Research Institute, Cedars Sinai Medical Center, Los Angeles, California, USA
- Smidt Heart Institute, Cedars Sinai Medical Center, Los Angeles, California, USA
| | - Simion Kreimer
- Advanced Clinical Biosystems Research Institute, Cedars Sinai Medical Center, Los Angeles, California, USA
- Smidt Heart Institute, Cedars Sinai Medical Center, Los Angeles, California, USA
| | - Laura E. Teigen
- Department of Physical Therapy, Marquette University, Milwaukee, Wisconsin, USA
| | - Carlos S. Zepeda
- Department of Physical Therapy, Marquette University, Milwaukee, Wisconsin, USA
| | - Ali Haghani
- Advanced Clinical Biosystems Research Institute, Cedars Sinai Medical Center, Los Angeles, California, USA
- Smidt Heart Institute, Cedars Sinai Medical Center, Los Angeles, California, USA
- Department of Physical Therapy, Marquette University, Milwaukee, Wisconsin, USA
| | - Mitra Mastali
- Advanced Clinical Biosystems Research Institute, Cedars Sinai Medical Center, Los Angeles, California, USA
- Smidt Heart Institute, Cedars Sinai Medical Center, Los Angeles, California, USA
| | - Yang Song
- Advanced Clinical Biosystems Research Institute, Cedars Sinai Medical Center, Los Angeles, California, USA
- Smidt Heart Institute, Cedars Sinai Medical Center, Los Angeles, California, USA
| | - Alexandre Hutton
- Department of Computational Biomedicine, Cedars Sinai Medical Center, Los Angeles, California, USA
- Advanced Clinical Biosystems Research Institute, Cedars Sinai Medical Center, Los Angeles, California, USA
- Smidt Heart Institute, Cedars Sinai Medical Center, Los Angeles, California, USA
| | - Sarah J Parker
- Advanced Clinical Biosystems Research Institute, Cedars Sinai Medical Center, Los Angeles, California, USA
- Smidt Heart Institute, Cedars Sinai Medical Center, Los Angeles, California, USA
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, Cedars Sinai Medical Center, Los Angeles California, USA
| | - Jennifer E. Van Eyk
- Advanced Clinical Biosystems Research Institute, Cedars Sinai Medical Center, Los Angeles, California, USA
- Smidt Heart Institute, Cedars Sinai Medical Center, Los Angeles, California, USA
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, Cedars Sinai Medical Center, Los Angeles California, USA
| | - Christopher W. Sundberg
- Department of Physical Therapy, Marquette University, Milwaukee, Wisconsin, USA
- Athletic and Human Performance Research Center, Marquette University, Milwaukee, Wisconsin, USA
| | - Jesse G. Meyer
- Department of Computational Biomedicine, Cedars Sinai Medical Center, Los Angeles, California, USA
- Advanced Clinical Biosystems Research Institute, Cedars Sinai Medical Center, Los Angeles, California, USA
- Smidt Heart Institute, Cedars Sinai Medical Center, Los Angeles, California, USA
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10
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Mayfield DL, Cronin NJ, Lichtwark GA. Understanding altered contractile properties in advanced age: insights from a systematic muscle modelling approach. Biomech Model Mechanobiol 2023; 22:309-337. [PMID: 36335506 PMCID: PMC9958200 DOI: 10.1007/s10237-022-01651-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/08/2022] [Accepted: 10/14/2022] [Indexed: 11/09/2022]
Abstract
Age-related alterations of skeletal muscle are numerous and present inconsistently, and the effect of their interaction on contractile performance can be nonintuitive. Hill-type muscle models predict muscle force according to well-characterised contractile phenomena. Coupled with simple, yet reasonably realistic activation dynamics, such models consist of parameters that are meaningfully linked to fundamental aspects of muscle excitation and contraction. We aimed to illustrate the utility of a muscle model for elucidating relevant mechanisms and predicting changes in output by simulating the individual and combined effects on isometric force of several known ageing-related adaptations. Simulating literature-informed reductions in free Ca2+ concentration and Ca2+ sensitivity generated predictions at odds qualitatively with the characteristic slowing of contraction speed. Conversely, incorporating slower Ca2+ removal or a fractional increase in type I fibre area emulated expected changes; the former was required to simulate slowing of the twitch measured experimentally. Slower Ca2+ removal more than compensated for force loss arising from a large reduction in Ca2+ sensitivity or moderate reduction in Ca2+ release, producing realistic age-related shifts in the force-frequency relationship. Consistent with empirical data, reductions in free Ca2+ concentration and Ca2+ sensitivity reduced maximum tetanic force only slightly, even when acting in concert, suggesting a modest contribution to lower specific force. Lower tendon stiffness and slower intrinsic shortening speed slowed and prolonged force development in a compliance-dependent manner without affecting force decay. This work demonstrates the advantages of muscle modelling for exploring sources of variation and identifying mechanisms underpinning the altered contractile properties of aged muscle.
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Affiliation(s)
- Dean L Mayfield
- Department of Evolution, Ecology, and Organismal Biology, University of California, Riverside, Riverside, USA.
| | - Neil J Cronin
- Neuromuscular Research Centre, Faculty of Sport and Health Sciences, University of Jyväskylä, Jyväskylä, Finland
- School of Sport and Exercise, University of Gloucestershire, Cheltenham, UK
| | - Glen A Lichtwark
- School of Human Movement and Nutrition Sciences, University of Queensland, Brisbane, Australia
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11
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Grosicki GJ, Zepeda CS, Sundberg CW. Single muscle fibre contractile function with ageing. J Physiol 2022; 600:5005-5026. [PMID: 36268622 PMCID: PMC9722590 DOI: 10.1113/jp282298] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/17/2022] [Accepted: 10/07/2022] [Indexed: 01/05/2023] Open
Abstract
Ageing is accompanied by decrements in the size and function of skeletal muscle that compromise independence and quality of life in older adults. Developing therapeutic strategies to ameliorate these changes is critical but requires an in-depth mechanistic understanding of the underlying physiology. Over the past 25 years, studies on the contractile mechanics of isolated human muscle fibres have been instrumental in facilitating our understanding of the cellular mechanisms contributing to age-related skeletal muscle dysfunction. The purpose of this review is to characterize the changes that occur in single muscle fibre size and contractile function with ageing and identify key areas for future research. Surprisingly, most studies observe that the size and contractile function of fibres expressing slow myosin heavy chain (MHC) I are well-preserved with ageing. In contrast, there are profound age-related decrements in the size and contractile function of the fibres expressing the MHC II isoforms. Notably, lifelong aerobic exercise training is unable to prevent most of the decrements in fast fibre contractile function, which have been implicated as a primary mechanism for the age-related loss in whole-muscle power output. These findings reveal a critical need to investigate the effectiveness of other nutritional, pharmaceutical or exercise strategies, such as lifelong resistance training, to preserve fast fibre size and function with ageing. Moreover, integrating single fibre contractile mechanics with the molecular profile and other parameters important to contractile function (e.g. phosphorylation of regulatory proteins, innervation status, mitochondrial function, fibre economy) is necessary to comprehensively understand the ageing skeletal muscle phenotype.
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Affiliation(s)
- Gregory J. Grosicki
- Biodynamics and Human Performance Center, Georgia Southern University (Armstrong Campus), Savannah, Georgia, USA
| | - Carlos S. Zepeda
- Exercise and Rehabilitation Sciences Graduate Program, Department of Physical Therapy, Marquette University, Milwaukee, Wisconsin, USA
| | - Christopher W. Sundberg
- Exercise and Rehabilitation Sciences Graduate Program, Department of Physical Therapy, Marquette University, Milwaukee, Wisconsin, USA
- Athletic and Human Performance Research Center, Marquette University, Milwaukee, Wisconsin, USA
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12
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Delgadillo JD, Sundberg CW, Kwon M, Hunter SK. Fatigability of the knee extensor muscles during high-load fast and low-load slow resistance exercise in young and older adults. Exp Gerontol 2021; 154:111546. [PMID: 34492255 DOI: 10.1016/j.exger.2021.111546] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/10/2021] [Revised: 08/08/2021] [Accepted: 08/26/2021] [Indexed: 10/20/2022]
Abstract
Resistance exercise training is a cornerstone in preventing age-related declines in muscle mass and strength, and fatigability of limb muscle is important to this adaptive response. It is unknown, however, whether fatigability and the underlying mechanisms differ between different resistance exercise protocols in young and older adults. The purpose of this study was to quantify the fatigability of the knee extensors and identify the mechanisms in 20 young (22.2 ± 1.3 yr, 10 women) and 20 older adults (73.8 ± 5.4 yr, 10 women) elicited by a single session of high- and low-load resistance exercise. One leg completed a high-load protocol with contractions performed as fast as possible (HL-fast, ~80% 1 Repetition Max, 1RM), and the contralateral leg a low-load protocol performed with slow contractions (LL-slow, ~30% 1RM, 6 s concentric, 6 s eccentric). Each exercise involved four sets of eight repetitions. Before and immediately following each set, maximal voluntary isometric contractions (MVC) were performed, and voluntary activation and contractile properties quantified using electrical stimulation. The reduction in MVC was greater following the LL-slow (20%) than the HL-fast (12%, P = 0.004), with no age or sex differences. Similarly, the reduction in the amplitude of the involuntary electrically-evoked twitch was greater in the LL-slow (14%) than the HL-fast (7%, P = 0.014) and correlated with the reduction in MVC (r = 0.546, P < 0.001), whereas voluntary activation decreased only for the LL-slow protocol (5%, P < 0.001). Thus, low-load resistance exercise with slow contractions induced greater fatigability within the muscle than a more traditional high-load resistance protocol for both young and older men and women.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jose D Delgadillo
- Exercise Science Program, Department of Physical Therapy, Marquette University, Milwaukee, WI, USA
| | - Christopher W Sundberg
- Exercise Science Program, Department of Physical Therapy, Marquette University, Milwaukee, WI, USA; Athletic and Human Performance Research Center, Marquette University, Milwaukee, WI, USA
| | - Minhyuk Kwon
- Exercise Science Program, Department of Physical Therapy, Marquette University, Milwaukee, WI, USA; Department of Kinesiology & Health Promotion, California State Polytechnic University, Pomona, CA, USA
| | - Sandra K Hunter
- Exercise Science Program, Department of Physical Therapy, Marquette University, Milwaukee, WI, USA; Athletic and Human Performance Research Center, Marquette University, Milwaukee, WI, USA.
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13
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Fitzgerald LF, Bartlett MF, Nagarajan R, Francisco EJ, Sup FC, Kent JA. Effects of old age and contraction mode on knee extensor muscle ATP flux and metabolic economy in vivo. J Physiol 2021; 599:3063-3080. [PMID: 33876434 DOI: 10.1113/jp281117] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/16/2020] [Accepted: 04/14/2021] [Indexed: 11/08/2022] Open
Abstract
KEY POINTS We used 31-phosphorus magnetic resonance spectroscopy to quantify in vivo skeletal muscle metabolic economy (ME; mass-normalized torque or power produced per ATP consumed) during three 24 s maximal-effort contraction protocols: (1) sustained isometric (MVIC), (2) intermittent isokinetic (MVDCIsoK ), and (3) intermittent isotonic (MVDCIsoT ) in the knee extensor muscles of young and older adults. ME was not different between groups during the MVIC but was lower in older than young adults during both dynamic contraction protocols. These results are consistent with an increased energy cost of locomotion, but not postural support, with age. The effects of old age on ME were not due to age-related changes in muscle oxidative capacity or ATP flux. Specific power was lower in older than young adults, despite similar total ATP synthesis between groups. Together, this suggests a dissociation between cross-bridge activity and ATP utilization with age. ABSTRACT Muscle metabolic economy (ME; mass-normalized torque or power produced per ATP consumed) is similar in young and older adults during some isometric contractions, but less is known about potential age-related differences in ME during dynamic contractions. We hypothesized that age-related differences in ME would exist only during dynamic contractions, due to the increased energetic demand of dynamic versus isometric contractions. Ten young (Y; 27.5 ± 3.9 years, 6 men) and 10 older (O; 71 ± 5 years, 5 men) healthy adults performed three 24 s bouts of maximal contractions: (1) sustained isometric (MVIC), (2) isokinetic (120°·s-1 , MVDCIsoK ; 0.5 Hz), and (3) isotonic (load = 20% MVIC, MVDCIsoT ; 0.5 Hz). Phosphorus magnetic resonance spectroscopy of the vastus lateralis muscle was used to calculate ATP flux (mM ATP·s-1 ) through the creatine kinase reaction, glycolysis and oxidative phosphorylation. Quadriceps contractile volume (cm3 ) was measured by MRI. ME was calculated using the torque-time integral (MVIC) or power-time integral (MVDCIsoK and MVDCIsoT ), total ATP synthesis and contractile volume. As hypothesized, ME was not different between Y and O during the MVIC (0.12 ± 0.03 vs. 0.12 ± 0.02 Nm. s. cm-3 . mM ATP-1 , mean ± SD, respectively; P = 0.847). However, during both MVDCIsoK and MVDCIsoT , ME was lower in O than Y adults (MVDCIsoK : 0.011 ± 0.003 vs. 0.007 ± 0.002 J. cm-3 . mM ATP-1 ; P < 0.001; MVDCIsoT : 0.011 ± 0.002 vs. 0.008 ± 0.002; P = 0.037, respectively), despite similar muscle oxidative capacity, oxidative and total ATP flux in both groups. The lower specific power in older than young adults, despite similar total ATP synthesis between groups, suggests there is a dissociation between cross-bridge activity and ATP utilization with age.
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Affiliation(s)
- Liam F Fitzgerald
- Muscle Physiology Laboratory, Department of Kinesiology, University of Massachusetts Amherst, Amherst, MA, 01003, USA
| | - Miles F Bartlett
- Muscle Physiology Laboratory, Department of Kinesiology, University of Massachusetts Amherst, Amherst, MA, 01003, USA
| | - Rajakumar Nagarajan
- Human Magnetic Resonance Center, Institute for Applied Life Sciences, University of Massachusetts Amherst, Amherst, MA, 01003, USA
| | - Ericber Jimenez Francisco
- Mechatronics and Robotics Laboratory, Department of Mechanical & Industrial Engineering, University of Massachusetts Amherst, Amherst, MA, 01003, USA
| | - Frank C Sup
- Mechatronics and Robotics Laboratory, Department of Mechanical & Industrial Engineering, University of Massachusetts Amherst, Amherst, MA, 01003, USA
| | - Jane A Kent
- Muscle Physiology Laboratory, Department of Kinesiology, University of Massachusetts Amherst, Amherst, MA, 01003, USA
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14
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Rate of force development is Ca 2+-dependent and influenced by Ca 2+-sensitivity in human single muscle fibres from older adults. Exp Gerontol 2021; 150:111348. [PMID: 33862138 DOI: 10.1016/j.exger.2021.111348] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/23/2020] [Revised: 04/07/2021] [Accepted: 04/08/2021] [Indexed: 11/20/2022]
Abstract
Natural adult aging is associated with declines in skeletal muscle performance, including impaired Ca2+ sensitivity and a slowing of rapid force production (rate of force redevelopment; ktr). The purpose of this study was to investigate the relationship between impaired Ca2+ sensitivity and ktr of single muscle fibres from young and older adults. Participants included 8 young (22-35 yrs) and 8 older (60-81 yrs) males who were living independently. A percutaneous muscle biopsy of the vastus lateralis of each participant was performed. Single muscle fibre mechanical tests included maximal Ca2+-activated force (Po), force-pCa curves, and ktr. We showed a decrease in pCa50 in old type II fibres compared to young, indicating impaired Ca2+ sensitivity in older adults. The ktr behaved in a Ca2+-dependent manner such that with increasing [Ca2+], ktr increases, to a plateau. Interestingly, ktr was not different between young and old muscle fibres. Furthermore, we found strong associations between pCa50 and ktr in both old type I and type II fibres, such that those fibres with lower Ca2+ sensitivity had a slowed ktr. This Ca2+ association, combined with impaired Ca2+ handling in older adults suggests a potential Ca2+-dependent mechanism affecting the transition from weakly- to strongly-bound cross-bridge states, leading to a decline in skeletal muscle performance. Future research is needed to explore the role alterations to Ca2+ sensitivity/handling could be playing in age-related whole muscle performance declines.
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