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Myostatin dysfunction does not protect from fasting-induced loss of muscle mass in mice
Andrej Fokin1, Petras Minderis1, Tomas Venckunas1,2
1Institute of Sport Science and Innovations, Lithuanian Sports University, Kaunas, Lithuania.
Objectives:
The aim of the study was to investigate if myostatin dysfunction can ameliorate fasting-induced muscle wasting.
Methods:
18-week old males from Berlin high (BEH) strain with myostatin dysfunction and wild type myostatin (BEH+/+) strain were subjected to 48-h food deprivation (FD). Changes in body composition as well as contractile properties of soleus (SOL) and extensor digitorum longus (EDL) muscles were studied.
Results:
BEH mice were heavier than BEH+/+ mice (56.0±2.5 vs. 49.9±2.8 g, P<0.001, respectively). FD induced similar loss of body mass in BEH and BEH+/+ mice (16.6±2.4 vs. 17.4±2.2%, P>0.05), but only BEH mice experienced wasting of the gastrocnemius, tibialis anterior and plantaris muscles. FD induced a marked decrease in specific muscle force of SOL. EDL of BEH mice tended to be protected from this decline.
Conclusion:
Myostatin dysfunction does not protect from loss of muscle mass during fasting.
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