Provides readers with a detailed understanding of the different facets of muscle physiology. Examines motoneuron and muscle structure and function. It is intended for those need to know about skeletal muscle--from undergraduate and graduate students gaining advanced knowledge in kinesiology to physiotherapists, physiatrists, and other professionals whose work demands understanding of muscle form and function.

This book systemically describes the mechanisms underlying the neural regulation of metabolism. Metabolic diseases, including obesity and its associated conditions, currently affect more than 500 million people worldwide. Recent research has shown that the neural regulation of metabolism is a central mechanism that controls metabolic status physiologically and pathophysiologically. The book first introduces the latest studies on the neural and cellular mechanisms of hypothalamic neurons, hypothalamic glial cells, neural circuitries, cellular signaling pathways, and synaptic plasticity in the control of appetite, body weight, feeding-related behaviors and metabolic disorders. It then summarizes the humoral mechanisms by which critical adipocyte-derived hormones and lipoprotein lipase regulate lipid and glucose metabolism, and examines the role of the hypothalamus-sympathetic nerve, a critical nerve pathway from CNS to peripheral nervous system (PNS), in the regulation of metabolism in multiple tissues/organs. Furthermore, the book discusses the functions of adipose tissue in energy metabolism. Lastly, it explores dietary interventions to treat neural diseases and some of the emerging technologies used to study the neural regulation of metabolism. Presenting cutting-edge developments in the neural regulation of metabolism, the book is a valuable reference resource for graduate students and researchers in the field of neuroscience and metabolism.

Drawing from the work of leading researchers in 26 countries, Biochemistry of Exercise X delivers an up-to-date, wide-ranging examination of membranes, muscles, and exercise. Experts in the field of biochemistry offer the latest research findings on topics such as signaling, excitation-contraction, metabolism, and adaption. The book features the proceedings of the prestigious Tenth International Conference on Biochemistry of Exercise held in Sydney, Australia, by the Research Group on Biochemistry of Exercise (ICSSPE) July 15-19, 1997. Featuring 48 illustrations and 9 tables, Biochemistry of Exercise X thoroughly examines recent findings on the basic mechanisms shaping exercise biochemistry and details their applications to specific areas in the field.

Covers: channels; secretory vesicles and exocytosis; receptors/coupling mechanisms; synaptic plasticity; modulatory factors; and protein kinases and control of gene expression. Includes both abstracts of papers, and poster sessions. Illustrated.

Growth Associated Protein 43 (GAP-43), isolated from rat brain and considered a neuronal marker, is involved in neurite branching, cytoskeleton remodelling, neuronal development and protection. However, GAP-43 mRNA was found in embryonic chicken cells positive to meromyosin, as well as in human satellite cells, myoblasts and myotubes deriving from healthy or dystrophic muscles. Despite these findings, there is no clear evidence about its localization or relationship with other muscle proteins. The aim of this study was to investigate GAP-43 protein expression and localization in C2C12 cells and mice skeletal muscle fibers, using immunoblot and immunofluorescence protocols for confocal mycroscopy. Immunoblot analyses show the presence of GAP-43 in C2C12 cell homogenates as well as in mature muscle fibers. Immunofluorescent images reveal that the protein is localized nearby the external nuclear membranes in C2C12 myoblasts, while in C2C12 myotubes, it has been detected on muscular streaks, in a regular double strand pattern. This localization has been found also in Extensor Digitorum Longus fibers isolated from 1 week, 1 and 24 months old mice. In isolated adult mouse fibers, GAP-43 localization appears to be in relationship with crucial proteins such as triadin, alfa-actinin, RyR, DHPR, as well as mitochondria. In addition, cross-specimen analyses on skeletal muscle cells and mature fibers from Xenopus Laevis (amphibian), rat and human were performed, in order to interpret the results from an evolutionary point of view. In conclusion, these preliminary data confirm the presence of GAP-43 in all the analyzed skeletal muscles, and its localization supports the hypothesis of a possible new functional role in the muscle excitation-contraction coupling process.

Since the middle of the last century we have progressively built up a comprehensive descriptive model of the allied mechanisms that maintain our muscles at a size and strength appropriate to the functional demands upon them and that rapidly repair damaged muscles. This volume is an assemblage of the collective experience from the pick of major research groups investigating these aspects of muscle cell biology. It provides up-to-date coverage and presents a broad range of topics.