Autophagic flux and oxidative capacity of skeletal muscles during acute starvation

Autophagy is an important proteolytic pathway in skeletal muscles. The roles of muscle fiber type composition and oxidative capacity remain unknown in relation to autophagy. The diaphragm (DIA) is a fast-twitch muscle fiber with high oxidative capacity, the tibialis anterior (TA) muscle is a fast-twitch muscle fiber with low oxidative capacity, and the soleus muscle (SOL) is a slow-twitch muscle with high oxidative capacity. We hypothesized that oxidative capacity is a major determinant of autophagy in skeletal muscles. Following acute (24 h) starvation of adult C57/Bl6 mice, each muscle was assessed for autophagy and compared with controls. Autophagy was measured by monitoring autophagic flux following leupeptin (20 mg/kg) or colchicine (0.4 mg/kg/day) injection. Oxidative capacity was measured by monitoring citrate synthase activity. In control mice, autophagic flux values were significantly greater in the TA than in the DIA and SOL. In acutely starved mice, autophagic flux increased, most markedly in t...