The role of nitrite in muscle function, susceptibility to contraction injury, and fatigability in sickle cell mice.

ABSTRACT: Sickle cell disease (SCD) patients can have limited exercise capacity and muscle dysfunction characterized by decreased force, atrophy, microvascular abnormalities, fiber distribution changes, and skeletal muscle energetics abnormalities. Growing evidence suggests that in SCD there is alteration in nitric oxide (NO) availability/signaling and that nitrate/nitrite can serve as a NO reservoir and enhance muscle performance. Here, we examined effects of nitrite on muscle strength, exercise capacity, and on contractile properties of fast-(extensor digitorum longus, EDL) and slow-twitch (soleus) muscles in SCD mice. Compared to controls, homozygotes (sickling) had decreased grip strength, impaired wheel running performance, and decreased muscle mass of fast-twitch, but not slow-twitch muscle. N

SUBMITTER: Wang L 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC6186197 | biostudies-literature | 2018 Nov

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature