| First Author | Wieneke S | Year | 2000 |
| Journal | Biochem Biophys Res Commun | Volume | 278 |
| Issue | 2 | Pages | 419-25 |
| PubMed ID | 11097852 | Mgi Jnum | J:65745 |
| Mgi Id | MGI:1927254 | Doi | 10.1006/bbrc.2000.3810 |
| Citation | Wieneke S, et al. (2000) Generation of tension by skinned fibers and intact skeletal muscles from desmin-deficient mice. Biochem Biophys Res Commun 278(2):419-25 |
| abstractText | We have investigated the physiological role of desmin in skeletal muscle by measuring isometric tension generated in skinned fibres and intact skeletal muscles from desmin knock-out (DES-KO) mice. About 80% of skinned single extensor digitorum longus (EDL) fibres from adult DES-KO mice generated tensions close to that of wild-type (WT) controls. Weights and maximum tensions of intact EDL but not of soleus (SOL) muscles were lowered in DES-KO mice. Repeated contractions with stretch did not affect subsequent isometric tension in EDL muscles of DES-KO mice. Tension during high frequency fatigue (HFF) declined faster and this deficiency was compensated in DES-KO EDL muscles by 5 mM caffeine which had no influence on HFF in WT EDL. Furthermore, caffeine evoked twitch potentiation was higher in DES-KO than in WT muscles. We conclude that desmin is not essential for acute tensile strength but rather for optimal activation of intact myofibres during E-C coupling. Copyright 2000 Academic Press. |