Skeletal muscle fiber type does not predict sensitivity to postischemic damage.

Because the three distinct fiber types of skeletal muscle have significant metabolic differences, the predominant fiber type in a muscle may influence its sensitivity to injury from ischemia and reperfusion. The few studies to address this issue have been conflicting. We explored possible differences in the sensitivity of fiber types to ischemia/reperfusion injury with an isolated rat hindlimb preparation perfused with an albumin-enriched Krebs buffer. Following 120 min of ischemia and 60 min of reperfusion, the tibialis anteriorwhite, tibialis anteriorred, soleus, and plantaris muscles were assessed for injury by examining three parameters: skeletal muscle injury (via 99Tc-pyrophosphate), microvascular injury (via 125I-albumin), and tissue water content. There was no consistent correlation between fiber type and sensitivity to postischemic injury. Both the soleus (slow twitch) and plantaris (fast twitch) muscles sustained similar significant injury: muscle damage was 133 and 167% greater than controls, and microvascular damage 96 and 91% greater than controls, respectively. However, other fast twitch muscles (tibialis anteriorwhite and tibialis anteriorred) exhibited no significant injury. Both injured muscles were in the posterior compartment while the uninjured muscles were in the anterior compartment. Regional flow as measured by microspheres revealed no correlation between postischemic flow and muscle injury, microvascular injury, or compartmental location. Skeletal muscle fiber type was not consistently predictive of its sensitivity to ischemia/reperfusion-induced injury. Compartmental location may have played an as yet unknown role in modulating vulnerability to postischemic damage.