Related Experiment Video
Updated: Aug 14, 2026

Ex Vivo Assessment of Contractility, Fatigability and Alternans in Isolated Skeletal Muscles
Published on: November 1, 2012
Chronic caloric restriction alters muscle membrane fatty acid content
W T Cefalu1, Z Q Wang, A D Bell-Farrow
1Department of Medicine, University of Vermont College of Medicine, 55A South Park Drive, T249, Colchester, VT 05446, USA. wcefalu@zoo.uvm.edu
Abstract:
Chronic caloric restriction (CR) has been demonstrated to increase longevity in lower species and studies are ongoing to evaluate its effect in higher species. A consistent metabolic feature of CR is improved insulin sensitivity and lowered lifetime glycemia, yet the mechanism responsible is currently unknown. However, the membrane's physiochemical properties, as determined by phospholipid composition, have been related to insulin action in animal and human studies and CR has been reported to alter membrane lipid content. We evaluated muscle membrane fatty acid content in rodents randomized to CR versus control diets for up to 29 months. CR was observed to increase the membrane content of C22:6 (docosahexaenoate) and to decrease C18:2 content. The membrane lipid content was related to insulin levels but not to parameters assessing glycemic control. This study suggests that membrane lipids, in particular 22:6, may contribute to the variation in insulin sensitivity seen with age.
More Related Videos
09:40Phosphorus-31 Magnetic Resonance Spectroscopy: A Tool for Measuring In Vivo Mitochondrial Oxidative Phosphorylation Capacity in Human Skeletal Muscle
Published on: January 19, 2017
11:50Fiber Type and Subcellular-Specific Analysis of Lipid Droplet Content in Skeletal Muscle
Published on: June 8, 2022
Related Concept Videos
Calmodulin-dependent Signaling
The Ca2+-CaM complex does not have enzymatic activity by itself. Instead, the complex binds downstream target proteins, including membrane proteins or enzymes,...
Cholesterol: Significance and Regulation
Considering cholesterol and...
Metabolic States of the Body: Fasting and Starvation
Chronic Pancreatitis I: Introduction
Pancreatitis is the inflammation of the pancreas, which occurs when the immune system becomes active and causes swelling, pain, and disruptions in organ function. Pancreatitis can manifest as either an acute or chronic condition.
Acute pancreatitis arises suddenly and lasts for a brief duration, while chronic pancreatitis is a long-term affliction...