Upregulation of PPARβ/δ Is Associated with Structural and Functional Changes in the Type I Diabetes Rat Diaphragm

Background Diabetes mellitus is associated with alterations in peripheral striated muscles and cardiomyopathy. We examined diaphragmatic function and fiber composition and identified the role of peroxisome proliferator-activated receptors (PPAR α and β/δ) as a factor involved in diaphragm muscle plasticity in response to type I diabetes. Methodology/Principal Findings Streptozotocin-treated rats were studied after 8 weeks and compared with their controls. Diaphragmatic strips were stimulated in vitro and mechanical and energetic variables were measured, cross bridge kinetics assessed, and the effects of fatigue and hypoxia evaluated. Morphometry, myosin heavy chain isoforms, PPAR α and β/δ gene and protein expression were also assessed. Diabetes induced a decrease in maximum velocity of shortening (−14%, P<0.05) associated with a decrease in myosin ATPase activity (−49%, P<0.05), and an increase in force (+20%, P<0.05) associated with an increase in the number of cross bridges (+14%, P<0.05). These modifications were in agreement with a shift towards slow myosin heavy chain fibers and were associated with an upregulation of PPARβ/δ (+314% increase in gene and +190% increase in protein expression, P<0.05). In addition, greater resistances to fatigue and hypoxia were observed in diabetic rats. Conclusions/Significance Type I diabetes induced complex mechanical and energetic changes in the rat diaphragm and was associated with an up-regulation of PPARβ/δ that could improve resistance to fatigue and hypoxia and favour the shift towards slow myosin heavy chain isoforms.