Green Tea Extract Increases the Expression of Genes Responsible for Regulation of Calcium Balance in Rat Slow-Twitch Muscles under Conditions of Exhausting Exercise

Abstract

We studied the role of calcium-regulating structures of slow- (m. soleus, SOL) and fast-twitch (m. extensor digitorum longus, EDL) skeletal muscles of rats during adaptation to exhausting physical activity and the possibility of modulating this adaptation with decaffeinated green tea extract. It was established that EDL adaptation is mainly aimed at Са²⁺ elimination from the sarcoplasm by Са-ATPase and its retention in the reticulum by calsequestrin. Administration of green tea extract increased endurance due to involvement of slow-twitch muscles whose adaptation is associated with enhanced expression of all the studied genes responsible for the regulation of Ca²⁺ balance.