[Biochemical changes in skeletal muscles after chronic indirect stimulation]

The skeletal muscle has the capacity to respond adaptively to increased use. This observation could open up the feasibility of constructing pumping chambers to support or even replace cardiac work. We investigated the changes in enzyme activity due to chronic stimulation in an animal skeletal muscle. In 5 adult sheep the psoas muscle of one side was electrically stimulated through the muscle nerves, with an implantable stimulation unit for 5 weeks. The activity of the hexokinase (E.C.2.7.1.1.), lactate dehydrogenase (E.C.1.1.1.27), malate dehydrogenase (E.C.1.1.1.37), creatine kinase (E.C.2.7.3.2.) choline acetyltransferase and the contents of adenosine triphosphate and adenosine diphosphate were determined in bioptic specimen. The use of only 15 Hertz as a stimulation frequency led to a transformation of an originally fast-twitch muscle into a slow-twitch muscle with reduced susceptibility to fatigue. These results indicate a potential role of the skeletal muscle as an ideal myocardial substitute with the ability to perform hemodynamic work.