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Reduced oxidative power but unchanged antioxidative capacity in skeletal muscle from aged humans

  • Skeletal Muscle
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Abstract

The hypothesis that the aging process is associated with mitochondrial dysfunction and oxidative stress has been investigated in human skeletal muscle. Muscle biopsy samples were taken from seven old male subjects [OS; 75 (range 61–86) years] and eight young male subjects [YS; 25 (22–31) years]. Oxidative function was measured both in permeabilised muscle fibres and isolated mitochondria. Despite matching the degree of physical activity, OS had a lower training status than YS as judged from pulmonary maximal O2 consumption (V̇O2max, −36%) and handgrip strength (−20%). Both maximal respiration and creatine-stimulated respiration were reduced in muscle fibres from OS (−32 and −34%, respectively). In contrast, respiration in isolated mitochondria was similar in OS and YS. The discrepancy might be explained by a biased harvest of "healthy" mitochondria and/or disruption of structural components during the process of isolation. Cytochrome C oxidase was reduced (−40%, P<0.01), whereas UCP3 protein tended to be elevated in OS (P=0.09). Generation of reactive oxygen species by isolated mitochondria and measures of antioxidative defence (muscle content of glutathione, glutathione redox status, antioxidative enzymes activity) were not significantly different between OS and YS. It is concluded that aging is associated with mitochondrial dysfunction, which appears to be unrelated to reduced physical activity. The hypothesis of increased oxidative stress in aged muscle could not be confirmed in this study.

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Acknowledgements

We gratefully acknowledge the skilled technical assistance of Christina Hebert and the excellent nursing assistance of Vivika Gustavsson. The present study was supported by grants from the Swedish Society for Medical Research (M.T.), the Swedish National Board of Health and Welfare (M.T.), the Swedish Research Council (K.S. project 13020; J.W. project 04210;, O.R. project 14244).

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Physiology and Pharmacology, Karolinska Institutet, Box 5626, 114 86, Stockholm, Sweden

    Michail Tonkonogi, Maria Fernström, Brandon Walsh & Kent Sahlin

  2. Department of Sports and Health Science, Stockholm University College of Physical Education and Sports, Box 5626, 11486 , Stockholm, Sweden

    Michail Tonkonogi, Maria Fernström & Kent Sahlin

  3. Department of Kinesiology, University of Wisconsin, 2000 Observatory Drive, Madison, WI 53706, USA

    Li Li Ji

  4. Department of Anaesthesiology and Intensive Care, Huddinge University Hospital, Karolinska Institutet, S-141 86 , Stockholm, Sweden

    Olav Rooyackers & Jan Wernerman

  5. Department of Surgery, Gastrocentrum, Huddinge University Hospital, Karolinska Institutet, 141 86 , Stockholm, Sweden

    Folke Hammarqvist

  6. Institute of Sport Science and Clinical Biomechanics, University of Southern Denmark, Campusvej 55, 5230 , Odense, Denmark

    Kent Sahlin

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  1. Michail Tonkonogi
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  2. Maria Fernström
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  8. Kent Sahlin
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Correspondence to Michail Tonkonogi.

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Tonkonogi, M., Fernström, M., Walsh, B. et al. Reduced oxidative power but unchanged antioxidative capacity in skeletal muscle from aged humans. Pflugers Arch - Eur J Physiol 446, 261–269 (2003). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00424-003-1044-9

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00424-003-1044-9

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