Enhancement of Energy Metabolism in Skeletal Myocytes Protects Against Age-Related Sarcopenia

Skeletal muscles constantly consume energy, and this consumption level increases correspondingly to the levels of physical activity. Mitochondrial energy metabolism requires constant supplementation with oxygen and substrates for ATP production. Limitation of the mitochondrial substrate supply leads to energy deprivation, which may be followed by sarcopenia and weight loss. Activation of mitochondrial energy metabolism can also stimulate the production of reactive oxygen species and oxidative stress. Here, we studied the effect of various mitochondrial substrates on the energy metabolism of primary skeletal myotubes and how it affects redox balance. We found that as individual components-glutamate, succinate, nicotinamide (NAM) as well as in combination-dicholine succinate (DISU) plus NAM, they increase mitochondrial membrane potential, alter NADH and FAD redox indices, which leads to an increased energy capacity of the skeletal myotubes. Changes in mitochondrial metabolism increased ROS production in mitochondria and cytosol but induced only a minor decrease in the level of the endogenous antioxidant reduced glutathione. Supplementation of young and aged rats with DISU + NAM through the drinking water for 7 days significantly increased myotube diameter in both age groups. Thus, provision of the myotubes with mitochondrial metabolism substrates activates energy metabolism and increases energy capacity but has no effect on oxidative stress. Moreover, it increases myotubes' diameters in young and aged rodent sarcopenia models in vivo.