Aging effects on oxidative capacity in type‐identified diaphragm muscle fibers
Authors: Mathieu Natalia Marin , Fogarty Matthew J. , Mantilla Carlos B. , Sieck Gary C. 
Published: June 2021

The diaphragm muscle (DIAm) comprises four muscle fiber/ motor unit types: Fatigue resistant type S and FR motor units with type I and IIa fibers, respectively that are recruited for ventilatory behaviors; and more fatigable type FInt and FF motor units with type IIx and/or IIb fibers that are only recruited during high force expulsive/straining behaviors of the DIAm. With advanced aging in Fischer 344 rats (F344), type IIx and/or type IIb DIAm fibers are vulnerable to sarcopenia (reductions in specific force and cross‐sectional area, CSA), while type I and IIa fibers are resilient. This is consistent with the fact that ventilatory behaviors are conserved with aging, while airway clearance behaviors are compromised. Throughout life, breathing imposes a high duty cycle (>33 %) of DIAm activity and thus, a high energy demand for type I and IIa fibers that is met by a high oxidative capacity. However, the effect of advanced age on DIAm fiber oxidative capacity has not been examined. Accordingly, we hypothesize that the oxidative capacity in type I and IIa DIAm fibers is not affected by age, whereas concomitant with sarcopenia, the oxidative capacity of type IIx and/or IIb fibers is reduced.

To assess DIAm fiber oxidative capacity, we measured succinate dehydrogenase (SDH) activity in type‐identified DIAm fibers from 6, 18 and 24‐month old male and female F344 rats. Following euthanasia, the DIAm was excised and 2–3 mm strips from the mid‐costal region were dissected, stretched to optimal length and rapidly frozen in melting isopentane. Serial transverse sections (6 μm) were cut to assess fiber type (based on myosin heavy chain, MyHC isoform), cross‐sectional area (CSA) and SDH activity. For SDH, sections were incubated at 25°C for 8 min in solutions containing 0 or 80 mM succinate and 1.5 mM nitro blue tetrazolium (reaction indicator), 5 mM EDTA, 0.2 mM PMS and 0.1 mM azide in 0.1 M phosphate buffer. Images were acquired every 5 s across a 15‐min period using a 20x objective on an Olympus IX71 inverted microscope. Linearity of the SDH reaction (change in optical density‐ OD) was confirmed across the 15‐min period for each fiber type.

The presence of DIAm sarcopenia was confirmed in 24‐month old rats by a 25 % decrease in specific force and a 20% decrease in type IIx and/or IIb CSA. At all ages, the SDH activity of type I and IIa fibers was higher than type IIx/IIb fibers. No age‐related difference was observed in the SDH activity of type I or IIa fibers, whereas SDH activity of type IIx and/or IIb DIAm fibers was reduced at 24 months compared to younger animals.

These results underscore the remarkable vulnerability of IIx and/or IIb fibers to sarcopenia, with profound resilience in I and IIa fibers. We propose that mitochondrial abnormalities may underlie the selective vulnerability of IIx and/or IIb fibers possibly due to changes at the phrenic motor neuron level.

Support or Funding Information

Supported by NIH grant AG44615

This abstract is from the Experimental Biology 2019 Meeting. There is no full text article associated with this abstract published in The FASEB Journal.