Elevated catalase activity in red and white muscles of MyoD gene-inactivated mice

MyoD is a myogenic transcription factor responsible for skeletal muscle differentiation during development. Muscle antioxidant enzyme status was determined in transgenic MyoD deactivated mice. While catalase activity was significantly (P < 0.05) elevated in soleus and extensor digitorum longus muscles from MyoD deactivated mice, superoxide dismutase and glutathione peroxidase activities were not. While this may imply a greater propensity for inherent oxidative stress, soleus glutathione status was similar between MyoD deactivated mouse and control soleus muscles. Catalase activity is localized primarily in peroxisomes. Therefore elevated catalase activity may also indicate the presence of factors associated with peroxisome proliferation in muscles from MyoD gene-inactivated mice.