Changes of energy metabolism,myosin light chain composition,lactate dehydrogenase isozyme pattern and fibre type distribution of denervated fast-twitch muscle from rabbit after low frequency stimulation

The influence of low frequency (8–10 Hz) electrical stimulation on denervated fast-twitch muscle from rabbit was investigated. Prolonged direct stimulation of denervated muscle resulted in higher oxidative enzyme activities. Furthermore, single fibre analyses for succinate dehydrogenase showed a more uniform distribution of activity in stimulated-denervated muscle when compared to normal muscle. As was also the case following stimulation of innervated muscle, glycolytic enzymes were decreased in activity and the LDH-isozyme pattern also shifted towards heart type. No change of the myosin light chain pattern could be observed after 56 days of stimulation.This study was supported by the Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft, Sonderforschungsbereich 138, and by grant NI 204-2-2. H. R. is grateful to Dr. Dirk Pette for his guidance and encouragement during this work, which was done in Dr. Pette's laboratory at the University of Konstanz