BS277 Biology of Muscle.Fibre Types

Objectives.After this lecture and associated reading you should be able to;

• Discuss the relative contributions of genetics and environment to muscle fibre isotype.

• Discuss the molecular basis of fibre isotype structure and function.

Twitch characteristics of different (phasic) muscles reflect fibre type composition.

Note that most muscles contain mixtures of fast (majority) and slow fibres.

Force generated during 500-ms stimulation at different frequencies (isolated mouse muscles, 25°C). A, soleus; B, extensor digitorum longus (EDL).

As a consequence of twitch time course, a fast muscle requires a higher frequency of stimulation to develop tetanus tension.

TABLE 10-3 Properties of Skeletal Muscle Fibre Types

Property Slow Intermediate Fast

Contraction speed

(Tension)

Fatigue resistance

Colour

Myoglobin content

Capillary supply

Mitochondria

[Glycolytic enzyme]

Substrates used for ATP generation

TABLE 10-3 Properties of Skeletal Muscle Fibre Types

Property Slow Intermediate Fast

Contraction speed Slow Fast Fast

(Tension)

Fatigue resistance

Colour

Myoglobin content

Capillary supply

Mitochondria

[Glycolytic enzyme]

Substrates used for ATP generation

TABLE 10-3 Properties of Skeletal Muscle Fibre Types

Property Slow Intermediate Fast

Contraction speed Slow Fast Fast

(Tension Low Intermediate High)

Fatigue resistance

Colour

Myoglobin content

Capillary supply

Mitochondria

[Glycolytic enzyme]

Substrates used for ATP generation

TABLE 10-3 Properties of Skeletal Muscle Fibre Types

Property Slow Intermediate Fast

Contraction speed Slow Fast Fast

(Tension Low Intermediate High)

Fatigue resistance High Intermediate Low

Colour

Myoglobin content

Capillary supply

Mitochondria

[Glycolytic enzyme]

Substrates used for ATP generation

TABLE 10-3 Properties of Skeletal Muscle Fibre Types

Property Slow Intermediate Fast

Contraction speed Slow Fast Fast

(Tension Low Intermediate High)

Fatigue resistance High Intermediate Low

Colour Red White White

Myoglobin content

Capillary supply

Mitochondria

[Glycolytic enzyme]

Substrates used for ATP generation

TABLE 10-3 Properties of Skeletal Muscle Fibre Types

Property Slow Intermediate Fast

Contraction speed Slow Fast Fast

(Tension Low Intermediate High)

Fatigue resistance High Intermediate Low

Colour Red White White

Myoglobin content High Low Low

Capillary supply

Mitochondria

[Glycolytic enzyme]

Substrates used for ATP generation

TABLE 10-3 Properties of Skeletal Muscle Fibre Types

Property Slow Intermediate Fast

Contraction speed Slow Fast Fast

(Tension Low Intermediate High)

Fatigue resistance High Intermediate Low

Colour Red White White

Myoglobin content High Low Low

Capillary supply Dense Intermediate Scarce

Mitochondria

[Glycolytic enzyme]

Substrates used for ATP generation

TABLE 10-3 Properties of Skeletal Muscle Fibre Types

Property Slow Intermediate Fast

Contraction speed Slow Fast Fast

(Tension Low Intermediate High)

Fatigue resistance High Intermediate Low

Colour Red White White

Myoglobin content High Low Low

Capillary supply Dense Intermediate Scarce

Mitochondria Many Intermediate Few

[Glycolytic enzyme]

Substrates used for ATP generation

TABLE 10-3 Properties of Skeletal Muscle Fibre Types

Property Slow Intermediate Fast

Contraction speed Slow Fast Fast

(Tension Low Intermediate High)

Fatigue resistance High Intermediate Low

Colour Red White White

Myoglobin content High Low Low

Capillary supply Dense Intermediate Scarce

Mitochondria Many Intermediate Few

[Glycolytic enzyme] Low High High

Substrates used for ATP generation

TABLE 10-3 Properties of Skeletal Muscle Fibre Types

Property Slow Intermediate Fast

Contraction speed Slow Fast Fast

(Tension Low Intermediate High)

Fatigue resistance High Intermediate Low

Colour Red White White

Myoglobin content High Low Low

Capillary supply Dense Intermediate Scarce

Mitochondria Many Intermediate Few

[Glycolytic enzyme] Low High High

Substrates used for Lipids, CHO, Primarily CHOATP generation aas (aerobic) CHO (anaerobic) (anaerobic)

TABLE 10-3 Properties of Skeletal Muscle Fibre Types

Property Slow Intermediate Fast

Contraction speed Slow Fast Fast

(Tension Low Intermediate High)

Fatigue resistance High Intermediate Low

Colour Red White White

Myoglobin content High Low Low

Capillary supply Dense Intermediate Scarce

Mitochondria Many Intermediate Few

[Glycolytic enzyme] Low High High

Substrates used for Lipids, CHO, Primarily CHOATP generation aas (aerobic) CHO (anaerobic) (anaerobic)

Alternative names Type I, S (slow), Type IIa, FOG Type IIb/x, SO (slow oxidative) FR (fast resistant) FAG, FF

(Fast fatigue)

The molecular basis for fibre isotype differences.

2xMHC 200kD4xMLC 20kDS1 ATPase and actin binding.S2 aggregation and hinge.300 mols per thick filament

MHC

Thin myofilament is actin + regulatory proteins

(Regulatory)

(essential)

From Barany, 1967. In Jones et al 2004

The myosins from different species with different speeds of muscle contraction break down ATP at different rates.

i.e. the contraction speed of muscle depends on the enzyme activity of the actomyosin. Fast muscle uses ATP quickly.

Isotypic variation in myosin• Myosins within species also differ between fibres

with different shortening velocities.

• Human has 4 heavy chain isotypes.

• Type 1 (slow)

• Type 2 (fast)– Type 2a– Type 2x (b)– Type 2c (Embryo and regenerating fibres)

The ATPase activity of the myofibril is a property of the kind of myosin it contains.

Histochemical identification of myosin isotypes.

• Type 1 (slow) inactivated by preincubation at pH 9.4

• Type 2 (fast)– Type 2a inactivated by pre-incubation at 4.3-4.6

– Type 2x (b) activity reduced by pre-incubation at 4.3-4.6

– Type 2c (Embryo and regenerating fibres)

Fibre type

Preincubation 1 2a 2x

pH 4.6 pH 9.4

Isotypic variation in myosin expression

• Imunohistochemistry can detect structural differences between MHC isotypes.– About 3% of fibres express both type 1 and type 2

MHC.

– Up to 40% can express both 2a and 2x.

• 2 light chains for each heavy chain; essential and regulatory (only regulate in smooth muscle).– Light chains also have fast and slow isotypes.

Isotypic variation in other myofibrillar proteins

• Actin has skeletal and cardiac forms but no differential association with fast / slow fibre isotypes.

• Tropomyosin is an αβ dimer. – Can be homo or hetero dimeric (αα; ββ; αβ)– α chain has fast and slow forms. – Fast fibres tend to have ββ and the fast form of α

• Troponin– TnC, TnI(inhibitory), TnT(tropomyosin binding)– All have fast and slow forms.

Schaffiano, S. and Reggiani, C. (1996) Physiol. Rev 76, 371-421.

Methods of fibre typing• Biopsies in humans; cryostat sections cut.• Enzyme histochemistry

– myosin ATPase • Fast; inactivated at pH 4.3-4.6.• Slow; inactivated by pH 9.4.

– ‘glycolytic’ enzymes• LDH -glycerophosphate dehydrogenase• PFK• glycogen (myo)phosphorylase

– ‘aerobic’ enzymes• Kreb’s cycle

– Succinate dehydrogenase (SDH)

• Lipid / ketone metabolising enzymes– beta hydroxybutyrate dehydrogenase– Non-specific esterase

• Immunohistochemistry– Myosin heavy/light chains

Identification of human skeletal muscle fibre isotype by enzyme histochemistry.(From Jones et al 2004)Micrograph shows sequential transverse sections of quadriceps stained for myosin ATPase (pH 9.4; inactivates type 1 myosin)), NADH transferase (complex 1; oxidative) and (myo)phosphorylase.

Identification of human skeletal muscle fibre isotype by enzyme histochemistry. (From Jones et al 2004)

Enzyme profiles from serial sections stained using different substrates, identify clusters of properties that differentiate between fibre types.

SDH = succinate dehydrogenase (‘aerobic’)-GPDH = glycerophosphate dehydrogenase (glycolytic)

Proportions of Type 1 (slow) fibres in different populations (From Spurway, 2006)

Motor units.

Contractile characteristics of the main types of motor unit. Upper traces are single twitches; lower traces show the fatigue curves during repetitive tetanic stimulation. Note the differences in force, speed and fatigability.

Tension

(One stimulus)

(Repeated stimuli)

Contractile properties of motor units. The size, speed and fatigue resistance of individual motor units, correlates with fibre type as defined by histochemical properties.

( number of fibres)

Neural determination of fibre isotype.

• Similarity of fibres within a unit suggest a neural influence.• Cross-innervation changes phenotype (Buller et al, 1960).• Denervated/tenotomised postural muscle becomes faster• Electrical stimulation at 10Hz type 1.• Brief, infrequent 40 Hz type 2X• More frequent 40 Hz type 2A• Frequent stimulation elevates Ca++ that regulates transcription

factor (NFAT) activity via calcineurin and NFAT dephosphorylation. (Chin, 1998)

• Inheritance of fibre type via motor neurones?

Other factors.

• If the nervous system does not develop, fibre types still differentiate.

• Steroids effect fibre size, but [thyroid hormone] influences fibre type (higher T3/4, faster isoforms).– Interaction between muscle activity and hormones. More active

muscles more susceptible to hormone influence

• Stretch ( tension) fast-slow transformation.

Overview of differences between athletes.

• % of type 1:type 2 determined genetically (motor neurones? Myoblasts?).

• Proportions of type 2A and type 2X influenced by training – (high frequency of recruitment induces 2X 2A, but not type 2

type 1).

• Frequency of recruitment influences hypertrophy (type 2 > type 1).

• Frequency of recruitment influences levels of metabolic enzymes.

• Training intensity and volume influence hormones; synergistic effect with direct influence on muscles?

Luquet, S. et al. (2003). Peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor δ controls muscle development and oxidative capability. FASEB J. 17, 2299-2301

PPAR is a ligand activated transcription factor.