Mitochondria in skeletal muscle: adaptable rheostats of apoptotic susceptibility

Apoptosis is an essential process that plays a critical role in both tissue development and maintenance. Apoptosis has been shown to be involved in skeletal muscle atrophy resulting from chronic muscular disuse, sarcopenia, and mitochondrial myopathies. Exercise may attenuate some of the proapoptotic adaptations that occur during these conditions. This review will focus on the factors influencing mitochondrially mediated apoptosis in skeletal muscle.