Attenuated HSP70 response in skeletal muscle of aged rats following contractile activity

The aim of this study was to investigate the production of HSP70 in gastrocnemius muscles from adult (6-month-old) and aged (28-month-old) rats following contractile activity. At 24 h following a period of repeated isometric contractions, muscles from adult rats contained significantly elevated levels of HSP70 compared with nonexercised muscle. This was not evident in muscles from aged rats. This attenuated response may play a major role in development of the age-related functional deficit that occurs in skeletal muscle. (C) 2002 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.