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Skeletal muscle intrinsic functional properties are preserved in a model of erythropoietin deficient mice exposed to hypoxia

  • Muscle Physiology
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Abstract

Erythropoietin (Epo)-induced polycythemia is the main factor of adaptation to hypoxia. In this study, we analysed the effects of Epo deficiency on intrinsic functional properties of slow and fast twitch muscles in a model of erythropoietin deficient mice (Epo-TAgh) exposed to hypoxia. We hypothesised that Epo deficiency would be deleterious for skeletal muscle structure and phenotype, which could change its functional properties and alters the adaptive response to ambient hypoxia. Wild-type (WT) and Epo-TAgh mice were left in hypobaric chamber at 420 mm Hg pressure for 14 days. Soleus (SOL) and extensor digitorum longus (EDL) were analysed in vitro by mechanical measurements, immunohistological and biochemical analyses. The results were compared to those obtained in corresponding muscles of age-matched normoxic groups. Our data did not show any difference between the groups whatever the Epo deficiency and/or hypoxic conditions for twitch force, tetanic force, fatigue, typology and myosin heavy chain composition. Normoxic Epo-TAgh mice exhibit improved capillary-to-fibre ratio compared to WT mice in both SOL and EDL whereas no angiogenic effects of hypoxia or combined Epo-deficency/hypoxia were observed. These results suggest that skeletal muscles possess a great capacity of adaptation to Epo deficiency. Then Epo deficiency is not a sufficient factor to modify intrinsic functional properties of skeletal muscles.

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Acknowledgements

We gratefully acknowledge Stephane Chambris for his technical support.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Université Paris 13, Laboratoire “Réponses cellulaires et fonctionnelles à l’hypoxie”, 74, rue Marcel Cachin. 97017, EA2363, Bobigny, France

    Luciana Hagström, Dominique Marchant, Jean-Paul Richalet, Michèle Beaudry & Thierry Launay

  2. Université de Technologie de Compiègne, UMR CNRS 6600, Compiègne, France

    Francis Canon

  3. Université Paris Diderot 7, Unité de Biologie Adaptative et Fonctionnelle, Laboratoire, Stress et Pathologies du Cytosquelette, Paris, France

    Onnik Agbulut

  4. Centre de Recherches du Service de Santé des Armées, La Tronche Cedex, France

    Bernard Serrurier & Xavier Bigard

  5. Université Paris-Descartes, Paris, France

    Thierry Launay

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  1. Luciana Hagström
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  2. Francis Canon
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  9. Thierry Launay
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Correspondence to Thierry Launay.

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Hagström, L., Canon, F., Agbulut, O. et al. Skeletal muscle intrinsic functional properties are preserved in a model of erythropoietin deficient mice exposed to hypoxia. Pflugers Arch - Eur J Physiol 459, 713–723 (2010). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00424-009-0775-7

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00424-009-0775-7

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