Myosin heavy chain of immature soleus muscle grafts adapts to hyperthyroidism more than to elements of physical activity. Devor, Steven T., and Timothy P. White. Department of Human Biodynamics, University of California, Berkeley, Berkeley, CA 94720-4480
APStracts 2:0462A, 1995.
The interaction of hyperthyroidism and the elements of physical activity on early regeneration of muscle grafts was investigated. Soleus (SOL) muscle grafts were studied 15-days following graft operations in eu- and hyperthyroid rats. Hypotheses were tested regarding the adaptation of the myosin heavy chain (MHC) profile of grafts and non-grafted control muscles, and whether the effect of hyperthyroidism would predominate over the opposing influence of recruitment and mechanical load on MHC of grafts. Denervation and myectomy of synergist muscles were employed to manipulate the elements of physical activity. Denervation decreased the expression of type I MHC, and hyperthyroidism furthered the shift toward a "fast" isoform profile.or example, in denervated grafts type IIb was undetected in euthyroid rats, and accounted for 31% of MHC in hyperthyroid rats. Compared with control muscles, grafts in the denervated and innervated-normal load groups demonstrated greater plasticity, as the adaptive response of MHC to thyroid status was more pronounced. Hyperthyroidism predominated over the opposing influence of the elements of physical activity on the regulation of MHC expression in innervated plus overload grafts. For example, type I MHC was 86% of MHC profile of innervated plus overload grafts in euthyroid rats, and only 49% in hyperthyroid rats. In conclusion, a heightened plasticity for grafts was evidenced in denervated and innervated tissues, and the regulation of MHC by thyroid hormone predominated over that due to the elements of physical activity.

Received 24 February 1995; accepted in final form 11 October
1995.
APS Manuscript Number A218-5.
Article publication pending Journal of Applied Physiology.
ISSN 1080-4757 Copyright 1995 The American Physiological Society.
Published in APStracts on 6 November 95