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
Abstract
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 microm(2) (n = 2) versus 11.6/100 microm(2) (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 Ca(2+) ions to the contractile proteins.
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A decline in aged skeletal muscle strength might be due to a reduction of L-type calcium channels.
“Furthermore, a decline in aged skeletal muscle strength might also be due to a reduction of L-type calcium channels (16).”
From Discovering pathways of sarcopenia in older adults: a role for insulin resistance on mitochondria dysfunction (2011) · cites this paper as [16]
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Self-citation
- Authors
- Boncompagni, S., d'Amelio, L., Fulle, S., Fano, G., & Protasi, F.
- Affiliations
- University of Chieti-Pescara (IT)
- Corresponding author
- Boncompagni, S.
- Venue
- The Journals of Gerontology Series A: Biological Sciences and Medical Sciences
- Publisher
- Oxford University Press (OUP)
- Published
- 2006-10-01
- Volume
- 61
- Issue
- 10
- Pages
- 995-1008
- ISSN
- 1079-5006 (ISSN-L)
- 1758-535X
- OpenAlex
- W2154826115
- Cited by
- 99
- References
- 71
- Citations by year
- 2026: 6 · 2025: 2 · 2024: 4 · 2023: 2 · 2022: 2 · 2021: 9 · 2020: 5 · 2019: 4 · 2018: 9 · 2017: 6 · 2016: 4 · 2015: 9 · 2014: 3 · 2013: 3 · 2012: 7
- FWCI
- 2.18
- Type
- journal article
- Language
- en
- Open access
- closed
- Locations
- The Journals of Gerontology Series A (publishedVersion)
- PubMed (publishedVersion)
- Funders
- Ministero dell’Istruzione, dell’Università e della Ricerca
- Ministero dell'Università e della Ricerca
- Topics
- Life Sciences › Biochemistry, Genetics and Molecular Biology › Molecular Biology › Muscle Physiology and Disorders
- Health Sciences › Medicine › Physiology › Nutrition and Health in Aging
- Life Sciences › Biochemistry, Genetics and Molecular Biology › Molecular Biology › Mitochondrial Function and Pathology
- Keywords
- excitation-contraction coupling, skeletal muscle aging, calcium release units, sarcoplasmic reticulum, T-tubules, calcium release, human skeletal muscle
- MeSH terms
- Adult, Aged, Aged, 80 and over, Aging, Calcium, Female, Humans, Male, Middle Aged, Muscle Contraction, Muscle, Skeletal, Muscle Fibers, Skeletal, Ryanodine Receptor Calcium Release Channel, Calcium Channels, L-Type, Microscopy, Electron, Transmission
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