Lactate transport studied in sarcolemmal giant vesicles from rat skeletal muscles: effect of denervation

The effect of denervation on lactate transport capacity was studied in giant sarcolemmal vesicles obtained from rat muscle. The rate of lactate transport was determined in soleus and red (RG) and white gastrocnemius (WG) after 1, 3, and 21 days of denervation and in the corresponding contralateral muscles. In addition, muscle lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) and succinate dehydrogenase (SDH) activities were determined. After 1, 3, and 21 days of denervation the rate of lactate transport was lower (P < 0.05) in WG (9, 11, and 36%), RG (15, 21, and 41%), and soleus (12, 24, and 50%) compared with the contralateral muscles. After 21 days of denervation LDH activity was 26, 25, and 34% and SDH activity 33, 25, and 27% lower (P < 0.05) in WG, RG, and soleus, respectively, compared with the contralateral muscles. In the control muscles the lactate transport capacity was 20 and 32% lower (P < 0.05) in WG than in RG and soleus, respectively. The present findings provide support that the sarcolemmal lactate carrier is a plastic system; the transport capacity in soleus, RG, and WG already declines after 1 day of denervation and is further reduced after 21 days of denervation. In addition, the data suggest that the lactate transport capacity in fast-twitch glycolytic fibers < fast-twitch oxidative-glycolytic fibers < slow-twitch oxidative fibers.