Age and diet alter skeletal muscle tubular aggregates

Abstract

Tubular aggregates (TA’s) may comprise the major histopathologic finding in hyperkalemic and normokalemic periodic paralysis. They also constitute a conspicuous morphologic abnormality in a number of myopathies, and have been associated with non-specific muscle myalgias/cramps. Caloric restriction (CR) is an experimental manipulation that increases longevity and reduces lesions in mice as compared to animals fed ad libitum (AL). However, the impact of CR on the dynamics of muscle tissue has not been previously established. In this paper we week to characterize the relationship between tubular aggregates and age and determine whether they are modulated by caloric restriction.