Age-related changes in glucose utilization and fatty acid oxidation in a muscle-specific manner during rabbit growth.

The optimal utilization of energy substrates in muscle fibers is of primary importance for muscle contraction and whole body physiology. This study aimed to investigate the age-related changes in some indicators of glucose catabolism and fatty acid oxidation in muscles of growing rabbits. Longissimus lumborum (fast-twitch, LL) and semimembranosus proprius (slow-twitch, SMP) muscles were collected at 10 or 20 weeks of age ( n=6 per age). Glucose transporter GLUT4 content was investigated by immunoblot assay. Activity levels of five enzymes were measured: lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) and phosphofructokinase (PFK) for glycolysis; citrate synthase (CS), isocitrate dehydrogenase (ICDH) and -3-hydroxyacyl-coenzyme A dehydrogenase (HAD) for oxidation. Mitochondrial and peroxisomal oxidation rates were assessed on fresh homogenates using [1-14C]-oleate as substrate. At both ages, mitochondrial and peroxisomal oxidations rates, as well as activities of oxidative enzymes were higher in SMP than in LL. In both muscles, the apparent rate of fatty acid oxidation by the mitochondria did not differ between the two ages. However, a decrease in the activities of the three oxidative enzymes was observed in LL, whereas activities of CS and HAD and peroxisomal oxidation rate of oleate increased between the two ages in SMP muscle. In both muscles, LDH activity increased between 10 and 20 weeks, without variations in glucose uptake (GLUT4 transporter content) and in the first step of glucose utilization (PFK activity). In conclusion, mitochondrial oxidation rate of fatty acids and activities of selected mitochondrial enzymes were largely unrelated. Moreover, regulation of energy metabolism with advancing age differed between muscle types.