The Ageing of Skeletal (Striated) Muscle by Changes of Recovery Metabolism

Abstract

Comparison between young and old rats confirmed that, in old age, the phosphocreatine (PC) of muscle decreases. Parallel to this, the adenine nucleotides of muscle were estimated and it was found that the restoration of ade nosine triphosphate (ATP) is diminished in old age. The relationship Q = ATP/ADP (adenosine diphosphate) decreases from 6.7 to 2.2. The role of the carbohydrate metabolism for the recovery of muscle was controlled by glycogen estimations in muscle and liver. In both, the glycogen content during rest is diminished in old age. Succinate dehydrogenase (SDH) activity decreases in muscle of old animals. Aldolase (ALD) activity does not change significantly. This confirms the conclusion that, in old age, the aerobic part of the carbohydrate metabolism, i.e. the recovery process of muscle, is diminished.