Unchanged [3H]ouabain binding site content but reduced Na -K pump α2-protein abundance in skeletal muscle in older adults

Abstract

Unchanged [3H]ouabain binding site content but reduced Na +-K+ pump α2-protein abundance in skeletal muscle in older adults. J Appl Physiol 113: 1505-1511, 2012. First published August 30, 2012; doi:10.1152/japplphysiol.01032.2011.-Aging is associated with reduced muscle mass, weakness, and increased fatigability. In skeletal muscle, the Na+-K+ pump (NKA) is important in regulating Na +-K+ gradients, membrane excitability, and thus contractility, but the effects of aging on muscle NKA are unclear. We investigated whether aging is linked with reduced muscle NKA by contrasting muscle NKA isoform gene expression and protein abundance, and NKA total content in 17 Elderly (66.8 ± 6.4 yr, mean ± S..