[Neuromuscular abnormalities in disuse, ageing and cachexia]

Cachexia, ageing and disuse and their effects on the human and animals neuromuscular system are reviewed. Disuse induces reduction of muscle fibers (mainly II) diameter with peripheral myofibrils lost; there is no core-targetoid or even reduction on myophosphorilase activity, both typical of denervation; the acetylcholine spontaneous release and trophic factors on myoneural junction are maintained; muscle fibers could change to angular shape. Ageing affects nerve and muscle by a continuous and progressive process of denervation and reinnervation; the number of motor units diminishes in sixties without any denervation electric activity; there is also reduction on the amount of ACh release on terminal neurons and mitochondrial oxidative capacity leading to compensatory type I muscle fiber number increase. Cachexia also induces reduction on muscle fibers diameter first on legs and then on arms and trunk; there is type II atrophy with occasional angular fibers, RNA/proteic synthesis reduction and normal DNA.