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Comparative Study
. 2011 Jul;66(7):751-64.
doi: 10.1093/gerona/glr047. Epub 2011 Mar 31.

Long-term supplementation with resveratrol alleviates oxidative stress but does not attenuate sarcopenia in aged mice

Janna R Jackson  1 , Michael J Ryan, Stephen E Alway
Affiliations
Comparative Study

Long-term supplementation with resveratrol alleviates oxidative stress but does not attenuate sarcopenia in aged mice

Janna R Jackson et al. J Gerontol A Biol Sci Med Sci. 2011 Jul.

Abstract

This study analyzed the capacity of resveratrol, a naturally occurring polyphenol, to reduce aging-induced oxidative stress and protect against sarcopenia. Middle-aged (18 months) C57/BL6 mice were randomly assigned to receive either a control diet or a diet supplemented with 0.05% trans-resveratrol for 10 months. Young (6 months) and middle-aged (18 months) mice were used as controls. Resveratrol supplementation did not reduce the aging-associated loss of muscle mass or improve maximal isometric force production, but it appeared to preserve fast-twitch fiber contractile function. Resveratrol supplementation did not improve mitochondrial content, the subcellular localization of cytochrome c protein content, or PGC1 protein content. Resveratrol increased manganese superoxide dismutase (MnSOD), reduced hydrogen peroxide(,) and lipid peroxidation levels in muscle samples, but it was unable to significantly reduce protein carbonyl levels. The data suggest that resveratrol has a protective effect against aging-induced oxidative stress in skeletal muscle, likely through the upregulation of MnSOD activity, but sarcopenia was not attenuated by resveratrol.

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Figures

Figure 1.
Figure 1.
Silent mating type information regulation homolog1 (Sirt1) enzyme activity and protein content. (A) Sirt1 protein content was measured via immunoblotting in total gastrocnemius muscle homogenate. (B) Sirt1 enzyme activity was determined fluorometrically in gastrocnemius muscle homogenate. Data are expressed as arbitrary fluorescent units (AFU)/μg protein. 6 months = young control, 18 months = middle-aged control, 28 months = aged control, 28mR = aged resveratrol. Significance was set at p ≤ .05, and all data are presented as mean ± SE. #p ≤ .05, young control (aging effect). *p ≤ .05, aged control versus age resveratrol (supplementation effect).
Figure 2.
Figure 2.
PGC1 protein content and citrate synthase enzyme activity. (A) PGC1 protein content was measured via immunoblotting in gastrocnemius muscle homogenate. (B) Citrate synthase enzyme activity was measured kinetically in homogenates from gastrocnemius muscles. Data are expressed as micromoles per minute per microgram of protein. 6m = 6 months old, young adult control; 18m = 18 months of age, control; 28m = 28 months of age, control; 28mR = 28 months of age, resveratrol treated. Significance was set at p ≤ .05, and all data are represented as mean ± SE. #p ≤ .05, young control (aging effect). *p ≤ .05, aged control versus age resveratrol (supplementation effect).
Figure 3.
Figure 3.
Subcellular cytochrome c protein content. (A) Cytochrome c protein content was measured, via immunoblotting, in the total, cytosolic (mitochondrial-free) and mitochondrial fractions of vastus lateralis muscles as an estimate of both mitochondrial content and mitochondrial membrane integrity. (B) Immunoblots of the mitochondrial form of SOD (MnSOD) and the cytosolic form of SOD (CuZnSOD) to illustrate the purity of the tissue fractions. 6m = 6 month old, young adult control; 18m = 18 months of age, control; 28m = 28 months of age, control; 28mR = 28 months of age, resveratrol treated. Significance was set at p ≤ .05, and all data are represented as mean ± SE. #p ≤ .05, young control (aging effect). *p ≤ .05, aged control versus age resveratrol (supplementation effect).
Figure 4.
Figure 4.
Isoform-specific superoxide dismutase activity and protein content. (A) MnSOD activity was assessed colorimetrically in mitochondria isolated from vastus lateralis muscles. Data are expressed as units per milliliter per microgram of protein. (B) MnSOD protein content was analyzed via immunoblotting in isolated mitochondria of vastus lateralis muscles. (C) CuZnSOD activity was assessed colorimetrically in the mitochondria-free cytosolic fraction from vastus lateralis muscles. Data are expressed as units per milliliter per microgram of protein. (D) CuZnSOD protein content was analyzed via immunoblotting in the mitochondria-free cytosolic fraction of vastus lateralis muscles. 6m = 6 month old, young adult control; 18m = 18 months of age, control; 28m = 28 months of age, control; 28mR = 28 months of age, resveratrol treated. Significance was set at p ≤ .05, and all data are represented as mean ± SE. #p ≤ .05, young control (aging effect). *p ≤ .05, aged control versus age resveratrol (supplementation effect).
Figure 5.
Figure 5.
Resveratrol attenuated increases in hydrogen peroxide (H2O2) concentration and lipid peroxidation associated with aging but did not prevent protein carbonyl formation. (A) H2O2 concentrations were determined fluorometrically in gastrocnemius muscle homogenate. Data are expressed as micromoles per H2O2per microgram pf protein. Significance was set at (p ≤ .05), and all data are represented as mean ± SE. (B) MDA and HAE levels were evaluated as a combined marker of lipid peroxidation and expressed in micromolar (MDA/HAE) per microgram of protein. (C) Protein carbonyl formation was analyzed as a marker of protein oxidation in gastrocnemius muscle homogenate. Data are expressed as nanomoles per milliliter. 6m = 6 month old, young adult control; 18m = 18 months of age, control; 28m = 28 months of age, control; 28mR = 28 months of age, resveratrol treated. Significance was set at p ≤ .05, and all data are represented as mean ± SE. #p ≤ .05, young control (aging effect). *p ≤ .05, aged control versus age resveratrol (supplementation effect).
Figure 6.
Figure 6.
In vitro muscle physiological analysis. Isometric muscle contractile properties were examined in the plantaris muscles of control and resveratrol-treated mice. (A) Graphical depiction of a force-frequency curve illustrating the maximal force produced in plantaris muscles at a given frequency. Data are presented as the force production at a given stimulation frequency relative to maximal force of that muscle. (B) Contraction time (CT) and ½ relaxation time (½ RT) were analyzed to determine twitch properties in plantaris muscles. Data are presented as a unit of time (milliseconds). (C) The twitch to tetanus ratio (Pt/Po) was assessed in plantaris muscles. Data are presented as a ratio of twitch force to maximal force. (D) A modified Burke protocol was implemented to assess muscle fatigue in plantaris muscles. Data are presented as a measure of fatigue index, calculated as a percent change from the first to last contraction (120th). 6m = 6 month old, young adult control; 18m = 18 months of age, control; 28m = 28 months of age, control; 28mR = 28 months of age, resveratrol treated. Significance was set at p ≤ .05, and all data are represented as mean ± SE. *p ≤ .05, aged control versus age resveratrol (supplementation effect).
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