Cumulative effects of H⁺ and P_i on force and power of skeletal muscle fibres from young and older adults

The cellular causes of the age-related loss in power output and increased fatigability are unresolved. We previously observed that the depressive effects of hydrogen (H⁺) (pH 6.2) and inorganic phosphate (P_i) (30 mm) did not differ in muscle fibres from young and older men. However, the effects may have been saturated in the severe fatigue-mimicking condition, potentially masking age differences in the sensitivity of the cross-bridge to these metabolites. Thus, we compared the contractile mechanics of muscle fibres from the vastus lateralis of 13 young (20-32 years, seven women) and 12 older adults (70-90 years, six women) in conditions mimicking quiescent muscle and a range of elevated H⁺ (pH 6.8-6.6-6.2) and P_i (12-20-30 mm). The older adult knee extensor muscles showed hallmark signs of ageing, including 19% lower thigh lean mass, 60% lower power and a greater fatigability compared to young adult muscles. Progressively increasing concentrations of H⁺ and P_i in the chemically-permeabilized fibre experiments caused a linear decrease in fibre force, velocity and power; however, the effects did not differ with age or sex. Fast fibre cross-sectional area was 41% smaller in older compared to young adults, which corresponded with lower absolute power. Size-specific power was greater in fibres from older compared to young adults, indicating the age-related decline in absolute power was explained by differences in fibre size. These data suggest the age-related loss in power is determined primarily by fast fibre atrophy in men and women, but the age-related increase in fatigability cannot be explained by an increased sensitivity of the cross-bridge to H⁺ and P_i. KEY POINTS: The causes of the age-related loss in muscle power output and the increase in fatigability during dynamic exercise remain elusive. We show that progressively increasing concentrations of hydrogen (H⁺) and inorganic phosphate (P_i) causes a linear decrease in muscle fibre force, velocity and power, but the depressive effects of these metabolites on cross-bridge function did not differ in fibres from older compared to young adults across a range of fatigue-mimicking conditions. We also found peak absolute power did not differ in slow fibres from young and older adults but it was ∼33% lower in older adult fast fibres, which was explained entirely by age differences in fibre size. These data suggest that fast fibre atrophy is a major factor contributing to the loss in power of older men and women, but that the age-related increase in fatigability cannot be explained by an increased sensitivity of the cross-bridge to H⁺ and P_i.