Botulinum toxin-induced paralysis leads to slower myosin heavy chain isoform composition and reduced titin content in juvenile rat gastrocnemius muscle

Muscle Nerve. 2009 Apr;39(4):472-9. doi: 10.1002/mus.21247.

Abstract

Intramuscular injections of botulinum toxin A (Btx-A) and exercise are used in the treatment of muscle spasticity in children with cerebral palsy. However, little is known about the biological changes within muscle subsequent to Btx-A-induced paralysis and how the combination of Btx-A and exercise might affect the growing muscle. The wet mass, myosin heavy chain (MHC) composition, and titin content of the juvenile rat gastrocnemius muscle were determined 3 weeks after Btx-A injections and subsequent voluntary wheel-running exercise. Btx-A increased the proportion of type IIa (+121%) and IIx (+65%) MHC while decreasing the proportion of type IIb MHC (-51%) and reducing the titin content (-18%). Exercise did not amplify or reduce the changes induced by Btx-A. Thus, we conclude that although the sarcomeric stability of paralyzed muscle might be impaired, moderate mechanical loading does not seem to affect paralyzed muscle protein composition.

MeSH terms

  • Age Factors
  • Animals
  • Body Weight
  • Botulinum Toxins, Type A / toxicity*
  • Connectin
  • Male
  • Muscle Proteins / metabolism*
  • Muscle, Skeletal / drug effects
  • Muscle, Skeletal / metabolism*
  • Muscle, Skeletal / pathology
  • Myosin Heavy Chains / metabolism*
  • Myosin Type I / metabolism
  • Neurotoxins / toxicity*
  • Nonmuscle Myosin Type IIA / metabolism
  • Nonmuscle Myosin Type IIB / metabolism
  • Organ Size
  • Paralysis / chemically induced*
  • Paralysis / metabolism*
  • Physical Conditioning, Animal
  • Protein Isoforms / metabolism
  • Protein Kinases / metabolism*
  • Rats
  • Rats, Sprague-Dawley

Substances

  • Connectin
  • Muscle Proteins
  • Neurotoxins
  • Protein Isoforms
  • Protein Kinases
  • Botulinum Toxins, Type A
  • Myosin Type I
  • Nonmuscle Myosin Type IIA
  • Nonmuscle Myosin Type IIB
  • Myosin Heavy Chains