Skeletal muscle changes

The rapid rise in cytosolic Ca Induced by nerve stimulation of a skeletal muscle changes the Interaction between actin filaments and tropomyosin, exposing the myosln-blndlng sites and thus permitting contraction to occur (see Figure 19-24). 

The growth of animals can be defined as an increase in mass of whole body, tissue(s), organ(s), or ceU(s) with time. This type of growth can be characterized by morphometric measurements eg, skeletal muscle or adipose tissue growth can be described by observing temporal changes in ceU number, ie, hyperplasia, and ceU size, ie, hypertrophy. Growth also includes developmental aspects of function and metaboHsm of cells and tissues from conception to maturity. 

FIGURE 17.23 The mechanism of skeletal muscle contraction. The free energy of ATP hydrolysis drives a conformational change in the myosin head, resulting in net movement of the myosin heads along the actin filament. Inset) A ribbon and space-filling representation of the actin—myosin interaction. (SI myosin image courtesy of Ivan Rayment and Hazel M. Holden, University of Wiseonsin, Madison.)... 

DICR (depolarization-induced Ca2+ release) is Ca2+ release triggered by depolarization of the sarcolemma. In skeletal muscle, conformational change in the voltage sensor (a 1S subunit of the dihydropyridine receptor) in the T-tubule is directly transmitted to the... 

These cascades of reactions need time in the range of seconds synaptic transmission through GPCRs is slow. All further postsynaptic changes depend on the type of postsynaptic cell. For example activation of 32-adrenoceptors causes in the heart an increase of the rate and force of contraction in skeletal muscle glycogenolysis and tremor in smooth muscle relaxation in bronchial glands secretion and in sympathetic nerve terminals an increase in transmitter release. 

It has been shown that inositol triphosphate (IP3) is involved in the excitation-contraction coupling in smooth muscle (Vergara et al., 1985), but presently no clear evidence has been reported for a similar involvement in skeletal muscle. If IP3 functions as a messenger for Ca release, it would bridge the gap between muscle metabolic changes and Ca release, as ATP is a prerequisite for IP3 regeneration. 

Various syndromes associated with hypereosinophilia involve skeletal muscle. There is a rare form of polymyositis which is characterized by this feature (defined as exceeding 1,500 eosinophils/mm for at least six months). Clinical presentation includes skin changes, heart and lung involvement, and peripheral neuropathy as well as proximal myopathy. The condition must be distinguished from trichinosis and other parasitic infections associated with hypereosinophilia. Muscle biopsy findings are interstitial and perivascular infiltrates in which eosinophils predominate but are accompanied by lymphocytes and plasma cells, and occasional muscle fiber necrosis. Fascitis may also be associated with hypereosinophilia (Shulman s syndrome). This condition is characterized by painful swelling of skin and soft tissues of trunk and extremities and weakness of limb muscles. Biopsy of muscle... 

An intermediate-duration study did not find any microscopic changes in the skeletal muscle or bone of rats or mice with inhalation exposure to hydrogen sulfide (CUT 1983a, 1983b, 1983c). 

---