Human muscle aging: ROS-mediated alterations in rectus abdominis and vastus lateralis muscles

• Published in: Experimental gerontology 2005-12, Vol.40 (12), p.959-965
• Main Authors: Marzani, Barbara, Felzani, Giorgio, Bellomo, Rosa Grazia, Vecchiet, Jacopo, Marzatico, Fulvio
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Adult; Aged; Aged, 80 and over; Aging; Aging - physiology; Antioxidant enzymes; Carbonylated protein content; Catalase - analysis; Female; Glutathione - analysis; Glutathione Disulfide; Glutathione levels; Glutathione Peroxidase - analysis; Glutathione Reductase - analysis; Humans; Lipid Peroxidation; Male; Middle Aged; Muscle Fibers, Skeletal - metabolism; Muscle Fibers, Skeletal - ultrastructure; Muscle, Skeletal - anatomy & histology; Muscle, Skeletal - metabolism; Muscle, Skeletal - physiology; Oxidative stress; Quadriceps Muscle - physiology; Reactive Oxygen Species - metabolism; Rectus abdominis; Rectus Abdominis - physiology; Superoxide Dismutase - analysis; Vastus lateralis
• ISSN: 0531-5565; 1873-6815
• DOI: 10.1016/j.exger.2005.08.010

Aging is related to the accumulation of reactive oxygen species (ROS)-mediated oxidative damage. Considering the heterogeneity of age-related changes and the involvement of muscles in different functions, we compared the aging process in different functional muscles. We studied age-related changes in rectus abdominis (RA) and vastus lateralis (VL) in subjects of different age (18–48- and 66–90-year-old). We analysed fiber distribution, antioxidant enzymatic systems: Mn and CuZn superoxide dismutase (MnSOD, CuZnSOD), glutathione peroxidase (GSHPx), catalase (CAT), as well as oxidative damage markers: lipoperoxide levels (LPO), carbonylated proteins (CP), reduced and oxidized glutathione (GSH, GSSG) content and the GSH/GSSG ratio. In the muscles analysed, type I fiber increases during aging with a consequent decrease in type II distribution. In the elderly group RA MnSOD showed higher activity than VL. Furthermore, in RA MnSOD was higher in the elder group than in the younger group. CuZnSOD, as well as GSHPx and CAT activities remained unchanged. LPO levels in VL increase with age; moreover, in the elderly group VL showed higher value than RA. CP, GSH and GSSG remained unchanged, while GSH/GSSG decreases in RA during aging. In conclusion, a relationship between aging and ROS seems to exist, but oxidative processes could evolve in different ways in muscles with different functions.