Denervation alters myosin heavy chain expression and contractility of developing rat diaphragm muscle

We hypothesized that unilateral denervation (DNV) of the rat diaphragm muscle (Dia) in neonates at postnatal day 7 (D-7) alters normal transitions of myosin heavy chain (MHC) isoform expression and thereby affects postnatal changes in maximum specific force (P) and maximum unloaded shortening velocity (V). The relative expression of different MHC isoforms was analyzed electrophoretically. With DNV at D-7, expression of MHC in the Dia persisted, and emergence of MHC and MHC was delayed. By D-21 and D-28, relative expression of MHC and MHC was reduced in DNV compared with control (CTL) animals. Expression of MHC also reappeared in adult Dia by 2-3 wk after DNV, and relative expression of MHC was reduced. At each age, P was reduced and V was slowed by DNV, compared with CTL. In CTL Dia, postnatal changes in P and V were associated with an increase in fast MHC isoform expression. In DNV Dia, no such association existed. We conclude that, in the Dia, DNV induces alterations in both MHC isoform expression and contractile properties, which are not necessarily causally linked.