1991 Volume 8 Pages 37-44
The movement of trace elements in the soleus-a typical red muscle atrophied by immobilization were investigated in designated intervals. Male Wistar rats (14 weeks old) whose one ankle joints were immobilized in the extended position were sacrificed after 4, 8 and 12 days. Fe, Zn, Mn and Cu concentrations were measured. The rate of atrophy increased rapidly until 8th day and slowly after that. In whole muscle Fe concentration kept increasing, and Zn and Mn increased temporarily. Their subcellular distributions also changed; especially Fe level of microsomal fraction kept increasing and reached to three-fold at 12 days. Increased Fe level, especially that of microsomal fraction, may cause increased oxidative stress in atrophied muscle. Electron probe X-ray microanalysis showed increased intracellular Ca level in atrophy, which may mediate effect of increased oxidative stress on muscle atrophy. Also metallothionein was induced in muscle atrophy.
