The purpose of this investigation was to determine how models of weightlessness, hindlimb suspension (HS), and hindlimb immobilization (HI) affect the metabolic enzyme profile in the slow oxidative (SO), fast oxidative glycolytic (FOG), and fast glycolytic (FG) fibers of rat hindlimb. After 1, 2, or 4 wk of HS or HI, single fibers were isolated from freeze-dried soleus and gastrocnemius muscles; a small section of each fiber was run on sodium dodecyl sulfate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis gels to identify fiber type, and the remaining piece was assayed for either lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) and citrate synthase (CS) or phosphofructokinase (PFK) and beta-hydroxyacyl-CoA dehydrogenase (beta-OH-acyl-CoA). Two weeks of HS induced an almost twofold increase in the activity of CS (2.13 +/- 0.13 vs. 3.60 +/- 0.26 mol.kg dry wt-1.h-1) in the SO fiber of the soleus, and the activity stayed high at 4 wk. Although the FOG fiber had significantly higher CS activity (3.85 +/- 0.29) than either the SO or FG (1.59 +/- 0.16 mol.kg dry wt-1.h-1) fiber, neither fast fiber type was altered by HS. The glycolytic enzymes LDH and PFK were both elevated in the SO fiber after HS. The increase in LDH occurred by 1 wk (14.80 +/- 1.51 vs. 8.83 +/- 0.78), whereas the activity of PFK was not significantly changed until 4 wk (1.16 +/- 0.13 vs. 0.68 +/- 0.05 mol.kg dry wt-1.h-1). The control FG fiber had the highest LDH (44.30 +/- 2.29) and PFK (2.40 +/- 0.16) activities, followed by the FOG fiber (LDH, 34.10 +/- 2.83; PFK, 1.62 +/- 0.17 mol.kg dry wt-1.h-1); however, the activities of these glycolytic enzymes in the fast fiber types were unaltered by HS. The activity of beta-OH-acyl-CoA was not affected by HS in either the slow or fast fiber types. HI showed qualitatively similar changes to those observed with HS; however, the enzyme shifts developed with a slower time course. In conclusion, both HS and HI shifted the SO fiber enzyme pattern toward that of the control FOG fiber; however, a complete conversion from the SO to FOG fiber did not occur within the 4-wk treatment period.

The effects of thyrotoxicosis on the contractile properties and development of muscle fatigue in the slow soleus (SOL) and fast extensor digitorum longus (EDL) muscles were examined in rats given 3 mg of L-thyroxine and 1 mg of L-triiodothyronine per kilogram of diet for 6 weeks. The hormone treatment produced significant decreases in the contraction time, one-half relaxation time, and twitch tension in the SOL, while the peak rate of tension development (+ dP/dt) and decline (- dP/dt) in this muscle were elevated. Additionally, the force-frequency curve was shifted to the right and, thus, resembled the curve of a normal fast-twitch muscle. In contrast, the contractile properties of the fast EDL were relatively unaltered by the hormone administration. Thyrotoxicosis also changed the SOL response to contractile activity as twitch tension, + dP/dt, and - dP/dt remained high, and a faster decline in muscle glycogen and an increase in lactate occurred compared to control muscles. These results clearly demonstrate a preferential effect of thyroid hormone on slow compared to fast skeletal muscle.

Contractile properties of slow-twitch soleus (SOL), fast-twitch extensor digitorum longus (EDL), and fast-twitch superficial region of the vastus lateralis were determined in vitro (22 degrees C) in rats remobilized after prolonged (3 mo) hindlimb immobilization (IM). For all muscles the muscle-to-body weight ratio was significantly depressed by IM, and the ratios failed to completely recover even after 90 days. The contractile properties of the fast-twitch muscles were less affected by IM than the slow-twitch SOL. The IM shortened the SOL isometric twitch duration due to a reduced contraction and half-relaxation time. These parameters returned to control levels by the 14th day of recovery. Peak tetanic tension (Po, g/cm2) declined with IM by 46% in the SOL but showed no significant change in the fast-twitch muscles. After IM the SOL Po (g/cm2) recovered to control values by 28 days. The recovery of Po in absolute units (g) was considerably slower and did not return to control levels until 60 (SOL) to 90 (EDL) days. The maximum shortening velocity was not altered by IM in any of the muscles studied. These results demonstrate that both fast- and slow-twitch skeletal muscles possess the ability to completely recover normal contractile function following prolonged periods of hindlimb IM.