#60 - Skeletal muscle aging and mitochondria: thinking beyond the powerhouse with Dr Russell Hepple

Dr Glenn McConell chats with Professor Russell Hepple from the University of Florida, USA. He is an expert on muscle mitochondria. We tend to think of the mitochondria as the powerhouse of the cell. As Russ clearly explains there is a lot more going on than only this. It is very important that the inner mitochondrial membrane remains impermeable. However, there are situations such as aging, ischemia reperfusion injury, muscle dystrophies and perhaps cancer/chemotherapy where calcium and reactive oxygen species can build up and affect this permeability. This mitochondrial permeability transition is a major focus of Russell’s research. Very interesting work and an informative chat. Russell does very well to simplify a complicated area of research. Twitter: @HeppleRuss
0:00. Introduction
1:50. The mitochondria beyond “the powerhouse”
3:30. Free radicals/reactive oxygen species can be good
4:50. ROS production at rest and during exercise
7:50. Chronically elevation of ROS
8:55. Inner mitochondrial membrane is impermeable
10:30. Elevated calcium levels in the cell/mitochondria
15:40. Mitochondrial permeability transition pore
17:40. Swelling and rupture of mitochondria
20:10. What causes the increase in calcium etc/aging
23:40. Ischemia reperfusion injury during a heart attack
26:00. Cyclophilin D, calcium and mitochondrial permeability transition
28:30. Muscular dystrophy and mitochondrial permeability transition
31:15. Interactions between calcium and ROS
35:00. Diabetes and mitochondrial permeability transition
37:00. Aging and mitochondrial function/volume (sex differences)
42:35. Can calcium precipitate in the cell?
43:53. Can assume skeletal muscle responds similarly to other cells
47:00. Aging and mitochondrial permeability transition
48:55. Aging and the neuromuscular junction
51:58. Deinnervation and the muscle endplate
54:58. Cancer and mitochondrial permeability transition
57:35. Chemotherapy and mitochondrial permeability transition
1:00:15. Takeaway messages
1:01:49. Outro (9 seconds)
Inside Exercise brings to you the who's who of research in exercise metabolism, exercise physiology and exercise’s effects on health. With scientific rigor, these researchers discuss popular exercise topics while providing practical strategies for all.
The interviewer, Emeritus Professor Glenn McConell, has an international research profile following 30 years of Exercise Metabolism research experience while at The University of Melbourne, Ball State University, Monash University, the University of Copenhagen and Victoria University.
He has published over 120 peer reviewed journal articles and recently edited an Exercise Metabolism eBook written by world experts on 17 different topics (link.springer.com/book/10.100....
Connect with Inside Exercise and Glenn McConell at:
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Not medical advice

[@fredfeuerstein1922]

I have tried to get the point - but I didnt. Is there something I can take from the podcast?

[@insideexercise]

That’s a shame. His takeaway points at the end didn’t do it for you?

[@fredfeuerstein1922]

​​​@@insideexerciseI stopped after about 30 minutes into it. I guess I need to improve my understanding of English. And obviously I can't understand the content on the side while hiking.

[@hikerJohn]

I dont think this is for the athlete but for the academics and scientists. Even jumping to the end for the takeaway does not add much. If you are interested in the subject just do a search on *mitochondria turnover* otherwise know that exercise is what keeps our mitochondria healthy and "young" but we will still age which slows down Mitochondria turnover (declining mitophagy) Fasting is also useful to prevent aging but athletes are too worried about muscle loss from fasting but too much muscle without mitophagy is not healthy.

[@kulkarniravi]

Dr. McConell, thank you for this video. Your audio level is a bit low, so it is a bit hard to comprehend your speech through these Indian ears.

[@PerryScanlon]

This is one of my favorite podcasts, but I struggle at times to hear the words. The audio would be more clear with higher bit depth, less data compression, and some volume leveling and/or constant distance to microphone.

[@insideexercise]

I wonder if you can let me know if the last podcast episode with David Wright (episode #63) sounds better. I tried putting cushions on either side of the microphone to try to reduce echoing in this bare office etc.

[@PerryScanlon]

​@@insideexerciseI've noticed an improvement in your audio in recent episodes. On #67 your guest sounds like low bandwidth Internet transmission (file size compression). He may have improved audio in his recording. Of course it's a pain to merge manually. Somebody may know of an automated tool for this.

[@insideexercise]

@@PerryScanlon Great to hear that you’ve noticed an improvement in the sound. I have moved my microphone closer and put up dampening to reduce the echoing.

[@hikerJohn]

@@insideexercise Hang some sheets or blankets around the room. Putting pillows near the mic wont do anything. the sound is bouncing off hard surfaces like the walls and ceiling.