Open AccessSkeletal Muscle of Female Rats Exhibit Higher Mitochondrial Mass and Oxidative-Phosphorylative Capacities Compared to Males
Author(s) -
Bartomeu Colom,
Maria P. Alcolea,
Adamo Valle,
Jordi Oliver,
Pilar Roca,
Francisco J. García-Palmer
Publication year - 2007
Publication title -
cellular physiology and biochemistry
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.486
H-Index - 87
eISSN - 1421-9778
pISSN - 1015-8987
DOI - 10.1159/000099208
Subject(s) - tfam , mitochondrial dna , oxidative phosphorylation , mitochondrion , skeletal muscle , medicine , biology , endocrinology , gastrocnemius muscle , protein subunit , glutathione peroxidase , citrate synthase , oxidative stress , mitochondrial biogenesis , microbiology and biotechnology , biochemistry , superoxide dismutase , enzyme , gene
The effect of gender and caloric restriction on mitochondrial content and oxidative-phosphorylative capacities has been investigated in rat gastrocnemius muscle. Muscle protein, mitochondrial protein and DNA contents, enzymatic activities of mitochondrial oxidative and phosphorylative system, mitochondrial antioxidant enzymes, protein levels of complex IV (subunit I and IV) and ATPase, and the gene and protein expression of mitochondrial transcription factor A (TFAM), involved in mitochondrial replication and transcription, were measured in rats of both genders fed ad libitum and subjected to three months of 40% caloric restriction. Compared to males, gastrocnemius muscle of female rats showed higher mitochondrial DNA and protein contents, TFAM protein level, oxidative and phosphorylative machinery and activities, and glutathione peroxidase activity. In conclusion, the present data show a clear gender dimorphism in rat muscle mitochondrial features, which could explain the higher facility of females to adapt to altered metabolic energy situations.