Control of myofibrillar ATPase activity and force in myodystrophic muscle

Myofibrillar ATPase activity was measured as a function of the free calcium concentration in skeletal muscles of control and myodystrophic mice. In addition, the force developed in skinned extensor digitorum longus (EDL) fibers of control and myodystrophic mice was measured as a function of the free calcium concentration, and a histomorphometric study was performed on soleus and EDL muscles of control and myodystrophic mice. The results showed that the myofibrillar ATPase activity and the force‐generating mechanisms of control and myodystrophic muscles were controlled to the same relative degree by equivalent concentrations of calcium ions. Upon maximal activation of the ATPase activities, we measured 18% less activity in myodystrophic muscles than in control muscles. Maximal activation of the force‐generating capacity in skinned fibers showed there was no significant difference in force produced in the control compared to myodystrophic fibers. The histomorphometric study revealed no alteration in the relative distribution of different fiber types in myodystrophic compared to control muscles. However, the histomorphometry did reveal a larger slow (type 1) relative cellular area compared to total cross‐sectional area in myodystrophic muscle than in controls. We propose that the lower ATPase activity but equal force‐generating capacity of myodystrophic muscles compared to control muscles is due to myodystrophic muscles being composed of a greater fraction of myofibrils from slow (type 1) fibers than control muscles.