Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

Effect of Carnosine on Excitation–Contraction Coupling in Mechanically-Skinned Rat Skeletal Muscle

  • Published:
Journal of Muscle Research & Cell Motility Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

This study investigated whether carnosine alters individual processes involved in normal excitation–contraction (E–C) coupling in mammalian skeletal muscle fibres. Mechanically-skinned fibre preparations were utilized because they allow carnosine to be precisely and readily applied to the cytoplasmic environment as desired, whilst still retaining the normal E–C coupling mechanism. Carnosine caused an increase (∼+0.02 to ∼+0.09 pCa units) in Ca2+-sensitivity of the contractile apparatus in a concentration-dependent manner (i.e. with 4, 8 and 16 mM respectively). Force responses elicited by 8 mM caffeine-induced Ca2+ release from the sarcoplasmic reticulum (SR) were potentiated in the presence of carnosine (compared to the bracketing responses in the absence of carnosine). Force responses elicited by transverse tubular (T-) system depolarization via the dihydropyridine receptors (DHPRs), either by ionic (Na+) substitution or by action potentials (APs), were also potentiated in a concentration-dependent manner in the presence of carnosine. The potentiation of the force responses in all of the various experiments was seemingly totally explicable by the increase in Ca2+-sensitivity of the contractile apparatus caused by carnosine. Thus, these results show that carnosine potentiates force responses solely by 'sensitizing' the contractile apparatus to Ca2+ ions and under physiological conditions does not cause additional Ca2+ release from the SR.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  • Abe H (2000) Role of histidine-related compounds as intracellular proton buffering constituents in vertebrate muscle. Biochemistry (Moscow) 65(7):757–765.

    Google Scholar 

  • Batrukova MA and Rubtsov AM (1997) Histidine-Containing dipeptides as endogenous regulators of the activity of sarcoplasmic reticulum Ca2+-release channels. Biochim Biophys Acta 1324: 142–150.

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Boldyrev AA (2000) Problems and perspectives in studying the biological role of carnosine. Biochemistry (Moscow) 65(7): 751–756.

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Dunnett M, Harris RC, Soliman MZ and Suwar AAS (1997) Carnosine, anserine and taurine contents in individual fibres from the middle gluteal muscle of the camel. Res in Veterinary Sci 62(3): 213–216.

    Google Scholar 

  • Fryer MW and Stephenson DG (1996) Total and sarcoplasmic reticulum calcium contents of skinned fibres from rat skeletal muscle. J Physiol 493: 357–370.

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Harris RC, Dunnett M and Greenhaff PL (1998) Carnosine and taurine contents in individual fibres of human vastus lateralis muscle. J Sports Sciences 16: 639–643.

    Google Scholar 

  • Lamb GD (2002a) Voltage-sensor control of Ca2+release in skeletal muscle: insights from skinned fibers. Frontiers Biosci 7: 834–842.

    Google Scholar 

  • Lamb GD (2002b) Excitation-contraction coupling and fatigue mechanisms in skeletal muscle: studies with mechanically-skinned fibres. J Muscle Res Cell Motility 23: 81–91.

    Google Scholar 

  • Lamb GD and Stephenson DG (1990). Calcium release in skinned muscle fibres of the toad by transverse tubule depolarization or by direct stimulation. J Physiol 423: 495–517.

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Lamb GD and Stephenson DG (1991) Effect of Mg2+on the control of Ca2+release in skeletal muscle fibres of the toad. J Physiol 434: 507–528.

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Lamb GD and Stephenson DG (1992) Importance of Mg2+in excitation-contraction coupling in skeletal muscle. News Physiol Sci 7: 270–274.

    Google Scholar 

  • Lamb GD and Stephenson DG (1994) Effect of intracellular pH and [Mg2+] on excitation-contraction coupling in skeletal muscle fibres of the rat. J Physiol 489: 331–339.

    Google Scholar 

  • Lamb GD and Posterino GS (2003) Effect of oxidation and reduction on contractile function in skeletal muscle fibres of the rat. J Physiol 546.1: 149–163.

    Google Scholar 

  • Lamb GD, Stephenson DG and Stienen GJM (1993) Effects of osmolality and ionic strength on the mechanism of Ca2+release in skinned skeletal muscle fibres of the toad. J Physiol 464: 629–648.

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Lamb GD, Cellini MA and Stephenson DG (2001) Different Ca2+ releasing action of caffeine and depolarisation in skeletal muscle fibres of the rat. J Physiol 531: 715–728.

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Lamont C and Miller DJ (1992) Calcium sensitizing action of carnosine and other endogenous imidazoles in chemically skinned striated muscle. J Physiol 454: 421–434.

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Mannion AF, Jakeman PM, Dunnett M, Harris RC and Willan PLT (1992) Carnosine and anserine concentrations in the quadriceps femoris muscle of healthy humans. Eur J Appl Physiol and Occupation Physiol 64 (1): 47–50.

    Google Scholar 

  • Maynard LM, Boissonneault GA, Chow CK and Bruckner GG (2001) High levels of dietary carnosine are associated with increased concentrations of carnosine and histidine in rat soleus muscle. J Nutrition 131: 287–290.

    Google Scholar 

  • Meissner G (1994) Ryanodine receptor/Ca2+release channels and their regulation by endogenous effectors. Ann Rev Physiol 56: 485–508.

    Google Scholar 

  • Nagasawa T, Yonekura T, Nishizawa N and Kitts DD (2001) In vitro and in vivo inhibition of muscle lipid and protein oxidation by carnosine. Mol Cellular Biochem 225: 29–34.

    Google Scholar 

  • Posterino GS, Cellini MA and Lamb GD (2003) Effects of oxidation and cytosolic redox conditions on excitation-contraction coupling in rat skeletal muscle. J Physiol 547: 807–823.

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Posterino GS and Lamb GD (2003) Effect of sarcoplasmic reticulum Ca2+content on action potential-induced Ca2+release in rat skeletal muscle fibres. J Physiol 551: 219–237.

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Posterino GS, Lamb GD and Stephenson DG (2000) Twitch and tetanic force responses and longitudinal propagation of action potentials in skinned skeletal muscle fibres. J Physiol 527: 131–137.

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Rubtsov AM (2001) Molecular mechanisms of regulation of the activity of sarcoplasmic reticulum Ca-release channels (ryanodine receptors), muscle fatigue and Severin's phenomenon. Biochem (Moscow) 66: 1132–1143.

    Google Scholar 

  • Sewell DA, Harris RC, Marlin DJ and Dunnett M (1992) Estimation of the carnosine content of different fibre types in the middle gluteal muscle of the thoroughbred horse. J Physiol 455: 447–453.

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Stephenson DG and Williams DA (1981) Calcium-activated force responses in fast-and slow-twitch skinned muscle fibres of the rat at different temperatures. J Physiol 317: 281–302.

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Stuerenburg HJ (2000) The roles of carnosine in ageing of skeletal muscle and in neuromuscular diseases. Biochem (Moscow) 65(7): 862–865.

    Google Scholar 

  • Wendt IR and Stephenson DG (1983) Effects of caffeine on Ca2+-activated force production in skinned cardiac and skeletal muscle fibres of the rat. Pflugers Archiv 398: 210–216.

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Zapata-Sudo G, Sudo RT, Lin M and Nelson TE (1997) Calciumsensitizing function for the dipeptide carnosine in skeletal muscle contractility. Cell Physiol Biochem 7: 81–92.

    Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Zoology, La Trobe University, Bundoora, Victoria, 3083, Australia

    Travis L. Dutka & Graham D. Lamb

Authors
  1. Travis L. Dutka
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. Graham D. Lamb
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Dutka, T.L., Lamb, G.D. Effect of Carnosine on Excitation–Contraction Coupling in Mechanically-Skinned Rat Skeletal Muscle. J Muscle Res Cell Motil 25, 203–213 (2004). https://doi.org/10.1023/B:JURE.0000038265.37022.c5

Download citation

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1023/B:JURE.0000038265.37022.c5

Keywords

Search

Navigation