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Updated: Apr 27, 2026
Ex Vivo Assessment of Contractility, Fatigability and Alternans in Isolated Skeletal Muscles
Published on: November 1, 2012
Changes in α7β1 integrin signaling after eccentric exercise in heat-shocked rat soleus
Zachary A Graham1, Chad D Touchberry, Anisha A Gupte
1Applied Physiology Laboratory, Department of Health, Sport, and Exercise Sciences, University of Kansas, 101DJ Robinson Center, 1301 Sunnyside Avenue, Lawrence, Kansas, 66045, USA.
Introduction:
α7β1 integrin links the extracellular matrix to the focal adhesion (FA) in skeletal muscle and serves as a stabilizing and signal relayer. Heat shock (HS) induces expression of proteins that interact with the FA.
Methods:
Male Wistar rats were assigned to 1 of 3 groups: control (CON); eccentric exercise (EE); or EE+HS (HS). Soleus muscle was analyzed at 2 h and 48 h post-exercise.
Results:
The 120-kDa α7 integrin decreased in the EE and HS groups, and the 70-kDa peptide decreased in the EE group at 2 h post-exercise. Total expression of focal adhesion kinase (FAK) and RhoA were decreased in EE and HS at 2 h post-exercise. Expression of phosphorylated FAK(397) decreased in the EE group but not the HS group at 2 h post-exercise.
Conclusions:
Long-duration EE may cause alterations in the FA in rat soleus muscle through the α7 integrin subunit and FAK.
