Dysfunction of muscle contraction with impaired intracellular Ca 2 handling in skeletal muscle and the effect of exercise training in male db/db mice

Abstract

Type 2 diabetes is characterized by reduced contractile force production and increased fatigability of skeletal muscle. While the maintenance of Ca 2 homeostasis during muscle contraction is a requisite for optimal contractile function, the mechanisms underlying muscle contractile dysfunction in type 2 diabetes are unclear. Here, we investigated skeletal muscle contractile force and Ca 2 flux during contraction and pharmacological stimulation in type 2 diabetic model mice (db/db mice). Furthermore, we investigated the effect of treadmill exercise training on muscle contractile function. In male db/db mice, muscle contractile force and peak Ca 2 levels were both lower during tetanic stimulation of the fast-twitch muscles, while Ca 2 accumulation was higher after stimulation compared with control mice. While 6 wk of exercise training did not improve glucose tolerance, exercise did improve muscle contractile dysfunction, peak Ca 2 levels, and Ca 2 accumulation following stimulation in male db/db mice. These data suggest that dysfunctional Ca 2 flux may contribute to skeletal muscle contractile dysfunction in type 2 diabetes and that exercise training may be a promising therapeutic approach for dysfunctional skeletal muscle contraction.