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Updated: Jun 28, 2026

A Rapid Automated Protocol for Muscle Fiber Population Analysis in Rat Muscle Cross Sections Using Myosin Heavy Chain Immunohistochemistry
Published on: March 28, 2017
Aging, muscle fiber type, and contractile function in sprint-trained athletes
Marko T Korhonen1, Alexander Cristea, Markku Alén
1Dept. of Health Sciences, University of Jyväskylä, P.O. Box 35, FI-40014 Jyväskylä, Finland.
Sprint exercise preserves muscle function in older athletes. Despite age-related declines in fast fiber size and myosin heavy chain (MHC) isoforms, sprint training maintains high muscle characteristics, benefiting aging muscles.
Area of Science:
- Exercise Physiology
- Skeletal Muscle Biology
- Aging Research
Background:
- Aging leads to muscle mass and strength decline, impacting functional capacity.
- Skeletal muscle adaptations to aging include fiber type shifts and reduced contractility.
- Elite athletes may exhibit distinct aging patterns due to chronic training stimuli.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the effects of aging on muscle fiber characteristics and function in male sprinters.
- To determine if chronic sprint training mitigates age-related muscle decline.
- To identify associations between myosin heavy chain (MHC) isoforms and force production in aging sprinters.
Main Methods:
- Biopsies from vastus lateralis of male sprinters (18-84 years) analyzed for fiber type, size, and MHC isoforms.
- Specific tension and maximum shortening velocity (Vo) measured in single skinned fibers from young and older sprinters.
- Isometric knee extensor contractions assessed for force-time characteristics.
Main Results:
- Aging reduced type II fiber cross-sectional area and MHC IIx content, increasing MHC I.
- Specific tension was preserved, but Vo of type I MHC fibers decreased with age.
- Maximal isometric force and normalized rate of force development declined with age, associated with MHC II.
Conclusions:
- Sprint-trained athletes show age-related reductions in fast fiber size and a shift towards slower MHC isoforms.
- These changes contribute to decreased explosive force production in older sprinters.
- Sprint exercise favorably impacts aging muscle, preserving high-level muscle characteristics in older individuals.
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