Journals of Gerontology Series A: Biological Sciences and Medical Sciences Large Type Edition
HOME HELP FEEDBACK SUBSCRIPTIONS ARCHIVE SEARCH TABLE OF CONTENTS
QUICK SEARCH:   [advanced]


     

This Article
Right arrow Full Text
Right arrow Full Text (PDF)
Right arrow Alert me when this article is cited
Right arrow Alert me if a correction is posted
Services
Right arrow Similar articles in this journal
Right arrow Similar articles in PubMed
Right arrow Alert me to new issues of the journal
Right arrow Download to citation manager
Citing Articles
Right arrow Citing Articles via HighWire
Right arrow Citing Articles via Google Scholar
Google Scholar
Right arrow Articles by Boncompagni, S.
Right arrow Articles by Protasi, F.
Right arrow Search for Related Content
PubMed
Right arrow PubMed Citation
Right arrow Articles by Boncompagni, S.
Right arrow Articles by Protasi, F.
The Journals of Gerontology Series A: Biological Sciences and Medical Sciences 61:995-1008 (2006)
© 2006 The Gerontological Society of America

Progressive Disorganization of the Excitation–Contraction Coupling Apparatus in Aging Human Skeletal Muscle as Revealed by Electron Microscopy: A Possible Role in the Decline of Muscle Performance

Simona Boncompagni, Luigi d'Amelio, Stefania Fulle, Giorgio Fanò and Feliciano Protasi

1 Interuniversity Institute of Myology, Ce.S.I. Center of Research on Aging, University G. d'Annunzio, Chieti, Italy.
2 San Liberatore Hospital, Atri, Italy.

Address correspondence to Feliciano Protasi, PhD, Associate Professor, CeSI, Centro Scienze dell'Invecchiamento, Università degli Studi G. d'Annunzio, Chieti, CH I-66013, Italy. E-mail: fprotasi{at}unich.it

An impairment of the mechanisms controlling the release of calcium from internal stores (excitation–contraction [EC] coupling) has been proposed to contribute to the age-related decline of muscle performance that accompanies aging (EC uncoupling theory). EC coupling in muscle fibers occurs at the junctions between sarcoplasmic reticulum and transverse tubules, in structures called calcium release units (CRUs). We studied the frequency, cellular localization, and ultrastructure of CRUs in human muscle biopsies from male and female participants with ages ranging from 28 to 83 years. Our results show significant alterations in the CRUs' morphology and cellular disposition, and a significant decrease in their frequency between control and aged samples: 24.4/100 µm2 (n = 2) versus 11.6/100 µm2 (n = 7). These data indicate that in aging humans the EC coupling apparatus undergoes a partial disarrangement and a spatial reorganization that could interfere with an efficient delivery of Ca2+ ions to the contractile proteins.




This article has been cited by other articles:


Home page
 Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. USAHome page
S. Boncompagni, H. Kern, K. Rossini, C. Hofer, W. Mayr, U. Carraro, and F. Protasi
Structural differentiation of skeletal muscle fibers in the absence of innervation in humans
PNAS, December 4, 2007; 104(49): 19339 - 19344.
[Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

Home page
 J. Physiol.Home page
C. Paolini, M. Quarta, A. Nori, S. Boncompagni, M. Canato, P. Volpe, P. D. Allen, C. Reggiani, and F. Protasi
Reorganized stores and impaired calcium handling in skeletal muscle of mice lacking calsequestrin-1
J. Physiol., September 1, 2007; 583(2): 767 - 784.
[Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]


HOME HELP FEEDBACK SUBSCRIPTIONS ARCHIVE SEARCH TABLE OF CONTENTS
All GSA journals The Gerontologist
Journals of Gerontology Series B: Psychological Sciences and Social Sciences
Copyright © 2006 by The Gerontological Society of America.