Effects of isoproterenol on rubidium transport in slow- and fast-twitch muscles from euthyroid and hyperthyroid rats

Abstract

The influence of experimental hyperthyroidism on the catecholamine induced stimulation of rubidium ion transport in the soleus (SOL), a slow-twitch muscle and the extensor digitorum longus (EDL), a fast-twitch skeletal muscle of rats was studied. Thyroxine administration (800 micrograms/kg/day), for ten days induced a rise of ouabain-sensitive 86Rb uptake in SOL muscle, without affecting the ouabain-insensitive uptake, whereas both fractions of 86Rb uptake were increased in EDL muscle from hyperthyroid rats. Isoproterenol (5 mumol/l) caused a two-fold rise in ouabain-sensitive Rb uptake of euthyroid SOL muscle, while in hyperthyroid SOL it could stimulate only the ouabain-insensitive fraction of 86Rb influx. On the other hand, the stimulating action of isoproterenol on euthyroid EDL muscle was due to an enhancement of ouabain-insensitive Rb uptake, but in hyperthyroid EDL it failed to stimulate the ouabain-insensitive transport and caused a marked rise in ouabain-sensitive Rb uptake. The changes in catecholamine mediated transport properties in SOL muscle may be related to fibre type transformation induced by thyroid hormone, although in EDL the changes of catecholamine stimulation are unlikely due to fibre type conversion. Basal and isoproterenol stimulated cAMP levels were significantly reduced in both EDL and SOL muscles from hyperthyroid rats, in contrast with an insignificant decrease in net rubidium uptake caused by isoproterenol at the same concentration.