Effect of Early Low-Intensity Exercise on Rat Hind-Limb Muscles Following Acute Ischemic Stroke

2006 ◽  
Vol 7 (3) ◽  
pp. 163-174 ◽  
Author(s):  
Myoung-Ae Choe ◽  
Gyeong Ju An ◽  
Yoon-Kyong Lee ◽  
Ji Hye Im ◽  
Smi Choi-Kwon ◽  
...  

This study examined the effects of daily low-intensity exercise following acute stroke on mass, Type I and II fiber cross-sectional area, and myofibrillar protein content of hind-limb muscles in a rat model. Adult male Sprague-Dawley rats were randomly assigned to 1 of 4 groups (n = 7-9 per group): stroke (occlusion of the right middle cerebral artery [RMCA]), control (sham RMCA procedure), exercise, and stroke-exercise. Beginning 48 hours post-stroke induction/sham operation, rats in the exercise group had 6 sessions of exercise in which they ran on a treadmill at grade 10 for 20 min/day at 10 m/min. At 8 days poststroke, all rats were anesthetized and soleus, plantaris, and gastrocnemius muscles were dissected from both the affected and unaffected sides. After 6 sessions of exercise following acute ischemic stroke, the stroke-exercise group showed the following significant (p < .05) increases compared to the stroke-only group: body weight and dietary intake, muscle weight of affected soleus and both affected and unaffected gastrocnemius muscle, Type I fiber cross-sectional area of affected soleus and both affected and unaffected gastrocnemius muscle, Type II fiber cross-sectional area of the unaffected soleus, both affected and unaffected plantaris and gastrocnemius muscle, Type II fiber distribution of affected gastrocnemius muscle, and myofibrillar protein content of both affected and unaffected soleus muscle. Daily low-intensity exercise following acute stroke attenuates hind-limb muscle atrophy in both affected and unaffected sides. The effects of exercise are more pronounced in the soleus and gastrocnemius as compared to the plantaris muscle.

2018 ◽  
Vol 1 (4) ◽  
Author(s):  
Xiujuan Liu ◽  
Nianyun Zhang

Objective   To explore the effects of different exercise patterns on gastrocnemius weight. Methods   Forty-eight SD rats were randomly divided into 4 groups, which were quiet control group (Con), continuous exercise group (CE), high-intensity intermittent exercise group (HIIT) and ladder exercise group (LE). After 8 weeks of exercise training, each group was anesthetized and samples were collected for testing. The body weight and gastrocnemius weight of each group were recorded. The cross-sectional area (CSA) of ​​gastrocnemius muscle was observed by HE staining. The levels of MSTN and insulin in serum were detected by ELISA. The expressions of MSTN, IGF1 and p70S6K in rat gastrocnemius muscle were detected by Western blot. Results Compared with group Con, the body weights of the three exercise groups were significantly lower, and the weight of the gastrocnemius muscles in group CE was significantly lower. Morphological observation of gastrocnemius showed that the cross-sectional area of ​​the gastrocnemius muscle in group CE was significantly decreased, compared with group Con, and the cross-sectional area of ​​the gastrocnemius muscle in group LE was significantly increased. There was no significant change in the cross-sectional area of ​​the gastrocnemius muscle in group HIIT. The ELISA results showed that serum GDF8 levels were significantly decreased in the three exercise groups compared with group Con, while the insulin levels were not significantly changed. Compared with group Con, the expression of GDF8 protein in the gastrocnemius muscle of the group LE was significantly decreased, while the protein expression of IGF1 and P70S6K was significantly increased. The protein expression of the gastrocnemius P70S6K in group CE was also significantly increased. Conclusions   Although the three exercise modes can significantly reduce the body weight of rats, only HIIT and LE improve the gastrocnemius muscle mass index. CE significantly reduced the body weight and cross-sectional area of ​​the gastrocnemius muscle. Although the protein expression of P70S6K was increased, there was no significant effect on the protein expression of GDF8 and IGF1. Ladder movement may increase the gastrocnemius cross-sectional area by reducing MSTN and increasing protein expression of IGF1 and P70S6K.


1994 ◽  
Vol 77 (2) ◽  
pp. 947-955 ◽  
Author(s):  
M. I. Lewis ◽  
S. A. Monn ◽  
W. Z. Zhan ◽  
G. C. Sieck

Interactive effects of emphysema (EMP) and prolonged nutritional deprivation (ND) on contractile, morphometric, and metabolic properties of hamster diaphragm muscle (DIA) were examined. Six months after induction of EMP (intratracheal elastase), saline-treated controls (CTL) and EMP hamsters of similar body weights were subjected to ND over 6 wk. Isometric contractile and fatigue properties of costal DIA were determined in vitro. DIA fibers were histochemically classified as type I or II, and fiber succinate dehydrogenase activity and cross-sectional area were determined using quantitative microscopic procedures. From histochemical sections, the number of capillaries per fiber (C/F) and per fiber cross-sectional area (C/A) were determined. ND resulted in progressive loss of body weight (ND-CTL, 23.8%; ND-EMP, 28.4%; P = NS). ND did not affect reduction in optimal length (Lo) of DIA fibers in EMP compared with CTL and ND-CTL hamsters. Maximum specific force (i.e., force/unit area) was reduced by approximately 25% in EMP animals compared with CTL. ND did not improve or exacerbate the reduction in specific force with EMP. ND attenuated improved fatigue resistance of DIA in EMP animals. No differences in fiber type proportions were noted among experimental groups. Significant atrophy of type I and II DIA fibers was noted after ND. Atrophy was proportionately greater in type II fibers of ND-EMP when referenced to EMP animals. Thus adaptive hypertrophy of type II DIA fibers in EMP animals was abolished. Fiber succinate dehydrogenase activity was significantly increased in type I and II fibers in EMP DIA. ND did not affect this metabolic adaptation of DIA fibers to persistent loads imposed by EMP.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)


1996 ◽  
Vol 8 (3) ◽  
pp. 391 ◽  
Author(s):  
MD Fratacci ◽  
M Levame ◽  
A Rauss ◽  
H Bousbaa ◽  
G Atlan

The changes occurring in the histochemical characteristics of the rat diaphragm during the postnatal period were examined. Fibre-type distribution, fibre oxidative capacity, i.e. succinate-dehydrogenase (SDH) activity, and cross-sectional area were compared in the costal (COS) and crural (CRU) regions, and across their abdominal and thoracic surfaces. The proportions of type I and IIb fibres in both COS and CRU increased with age, while the proportion of type IIa fibres progressively decreased. For COS, fibre distribution was homogeneous over the entire muscle and did not change after 4 weeks. For CRU, it was heterogeneous with a higher proportion of type I fibres on the thoracic surface as from the first week. All fibre types significantly increased in cross-sectional area between 1 and 8 weeks, with no significant differences in COS and CRU. Mean SDH activity did not differ between COS and CRU or across the muscles. Mean SDH activities-were low and identical in all fibre types at birth, and then increased, peaking at the 6th week in type I and IIa fibres. When total muscle fibre oxidative capacity was calculated from an index including fibre-type proportion, cross-sectional area and mean SDH activity, it was significantly higher at 1 than at 8 weeks after birth; this might have functional implications for the newborn.


1996 ◽  
Vol 80 (3) ◽  
pp. 981-987 ◽  
Author(s):  
J. J. Widrick ◽  
J. J. Bangart ◽  
M. Karhanek ◽  
R. H. Fitts

This study examined the effectiveness of intermittent weight bearing (IWB) as a countermeasure to non-weight-bearing (NWB)-induced alterations in soleus type I fiber force (in mN), tension (Po; force per fiber cross-sectional area in kN/m-2), and maximal unloaded shortening velocity (Vo, in fiber lengths/s). Adult rats were assigned to one of the following groups: normal weight bearing (WB), 14 days of hindlimb NWB (NWB group), and 14 days of hindlimb NWB with IWB treatments (IWB group). The IWB treatment consisted of four 10-min periods of standing WB each day. Single, chemically permeabilized soleus fiber segments were mounted between a force transducer and position motor and were studied at maximal Ca2+ activation, after which type I fiber myosin heavy-chain composition was confirmed by sodium dodecyl sufate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis. NWB resulted in a loss in relative soleus mass (-45%), with type I fibers displaying reductions in diameter (-28%) and peak isometric force (-55%) and an increase in Vo (+33%). In addition, NWB induced a 16% reduction in type I fiber Po, a 41% reduction in type I fiber peak elastic modulus [Eo, defined as (delta force/delta length) x (fiber length/fiber cross-sectional area] and a significant increase in the Po/Eo ratio. In contrast to NWB, IWB reduced the loss of relative soleus mass (by 22%) and attenuated alterations in type I fiber diameter (by 36%), peak force (by 29%), and Vo (by 48%) but had no significant effect on Po, Eo, or Po/Eo. These results indicate that a modest restoration of WB activity during 14 days of NWB is sufficient to attenuate type I fiber atrophy and to partially restore type I peak isometric force and Vo to WB levels. However, the NWB-induced reductions in Po and Eo, which we hypothesize to be due to a decline in the number and stiffness of cross bridges, respectively, are considerably less responsive to this countermeasure treatment.


1997 ◽  
Vol 272 (1) ◽  
pp. R34-R42 ◽  
Author(s):  
J. J. Widrick ◽  
J. G. Romatowski ◽  
M. Karhanek ◽  
R. H. Fitts

It is well known that skeletal muscle intrinsic maximal shortening velocity is inversely related to species body mass. However, there is uncertainty regarding the relationship between the contractile properties of muscle fibers obtained from commonly studied laboratory animals and those obtained from humans. In this study we determined the contractile properties of single chemically skinned fibers prepared from rat, rhesus monkey, and human soleus and gastrocnemius muscle samples under identical experimental conditions. All fibers used for analysis expressed type I myosin heavy chain as determined by sodium dodecyl sulfate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis. Allometric coefficients for type I fibers from each muscle indicated that there was little change in peak tension (force/fiber cross-sectional area) across species. In contrast, both soleus and gastrocnemius type I fiber maximal unloaded shortening velocity (Vo), the y-intercept of the force-velocity relationship (Vmax), peak power per unit fiber length, and peak power normalized for fiber length and cross-sectional area were all inversely related to species body mass. The present allometric coefficients for soleus fiber Vo (-0.18) and Vmax (-0.11) are in good agreement with published values for soleus fibers obtained from common laboratory and domesticated mammals. Taken together, these observations suggest that the Vo of slow fibers from quadrupeds and humans scale similarly and can be described by the same quantitative relationships. These findings have implications in the design and interpretation of experiments, especially those that use small laboratory mammals as a model of human muscle function.


2005 ◽  
Vol 99 (1) ◽  
pp. 87-94 ◽  
Author(s):  
Lars L. Andersen ◽  
Jesper L. Andersen ◽  
S. Peter Magnusson ◽  
Charlotte Suetta ◽  
Jørgen L. Madsen ◽  
...  

Previous studies show that cessation of resistance training, commonly known as “detraining,” is associated with strength loss, decreased neural drive, and muscular atrophy. Detraining may also increase the expression of fast muscle myosin heavy chain (MHC) isoforms. The present study examined the effect of detraining subsequent to resistance training on contractile performance during slow-to-medium velocity isokinetic muscle contraction vs. performance of maximal velocity “unloaded” limb movement (i.e., no external loading of the limb). Maximal knee extensor strength was measured in an isokinetic dynamometer at 30 and 240°/s, and performance of maximal velocity limb movement was measured with a goniometer during maximal unloaded knee extension. Muscle cross-sectional area was determined with MRI. Electromyographic signals were measured in the quadriceps and hamstring muscles. Twitch contractions were evoked in the passive vastus lateralis muscle. MHC isoform composition was determined with SDS-PAGE. Isokinetic muscle strength increased 18% ( P < 0.01) and 10% ( P < 0.05) at slow and medium velocities, respectively, along with gains in muscle cross-sectional area and increased electromyogram in response to 3 mo of resistance training. After 3 mo of detraining these gains were lost, whereas in contrast maximal unloaded knee extension velocity and power increased 14% ( P < 0.05) and 44% ( P < 0.05), respectively. Additionally, faster muscle twitch contractile properties along with an increased and decreased amount of MHC type II and MHC type I isoforms, respectively, were observed. In conclusion, detraining subsequent to resistance training increases maximal unloaded movement speed and power in previously untrained subjects. A phenotypic shift toward faster muscle MHC isoforms (I → IIA → IIX) and faster electrically evoked muscle contractile properties in response to detraining may explain the present results.


2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Yumin Wang ◽  
Satoshi Ikeda ◽  
Katsunori Ikoma

Abstract Mechanical stimulation has benefits for muscle mass and function. Passive stretching is widely performed in clinical rehabilitation medicine. However, the hypertrophic effects of passive repetitive stretching on senescent skeletal muscles against muscle atrophy remain unknown. We used senescence-accelerated model SAM-P8 mice. The gastrocnemius muscle was passively repetitive stretched by manual ankle dorsiflexion for 15 min, 5 days a week for 2 weeks under deep anesthesia. We examined the effects of passive stretching on muscle mass, myofiber cross-sectional area, muscle fiber type and composition, satellite cell content, mRNA expression of the signaling pathways involved in muscle protein synthesis, muscle-specific ubiquitin ligases, and myogenic regulatory factors. The gastrocnemius muscle weight of the stretched side increased compared with that of the unstretched side. In addition to the increase in muscle mass, muscle fiber cross-sectional area of the stretched side was greater than that of the unstretched side. Passive repetitive stretching significantly increased the mRNA expression level of Akt, p70S6K, 4E-BP1, Myf5, myogenin, MuRF1. Passive repetitive stretching promoted skeletal muscle mass and myofiber cross-sectional area in SAM-P8 mice. These hypertrophic observations are attributable to the stretch-activated signaling pathways involved in protein turnover. These findings are applicable to clinical muscle strengthening and sarcopenia prevention.


1990 ◽  
Vol 68 (2) ◽  
pp. 533-539 ◽  
Author(s):  
C. E. Kasper ◽  
T. P. White ◽  
L. C. Maxwell

The objectives were to study morphological adaptations of soleus muscle to decreased loading induced by hindlimb suspension and the effect of run training during the subsequent recovery period. Adult female Wistar rats were kept for 28 days with hindlimbs suspended. For the next 28 days, rats were assigned to a cage-sedentary or daily running group. Compared with control soleus muscles, 28 days of hindlimb suspension reduced the mass and fiber cross-sectional area to 58 and 53% of control values, respectively, and decreased type I fibers from 92 +/- 2 to 81 +/- 2%. During recovery, clusters of damaged fibers were observed in the soleus muscle, and this observation was more pronounced in trained animals. Type IIc fibers appeared transiently during recovery, and their presence was exacerbated with training, as IIc fibers increased to approximately 20% of the total by day 14 of recovery and were no longer evident at day 28. Although muscle wet mass does not differ as a result of mode of recovery at day 14, training transiently decreased the overall fiber area compared with sedentary recovery at this point. By day 28 of recovery the morphological characteristics of soleus muscle in the trained group did not differ from control muscle, whereas in the sedentary group muscle mass and overall fiber cross-sectional area were approximately 14% less than control values.


1993 ◽  
Vol 74 (2) ◽  
pp. 742-749 ◽  
Author(s):  
D. J. Prezant ◽  
D. E. Valentine ◽  
H. H. Kim ◽  
E. I. Gentry

The effects of 4.5 days of acute starvation, either alone or followed by refeeding (ad libitum), on diaphragm contractility, fatigue, and fiber types were studied in male rats. Contractility and fatigue resistance indexes were measured in an in vitro costal diaphragm strip preparation with direct stimulation at 37 degrees C. Compared with controls, starvation produced a 28 +/- 1% (P < 0.001) reduction in body weight and an 18 +/- 4% (P < 0.001) reduction in costal diaphragm weight. Twitch and tetanic tensions (normalized for weight or cross-sectional area) were not reduced by starvation. Starvation produced significant increases in fatigue resistance indexes after a 5-Hz stimulation paradigm but not after a 100-Hz paradigm, supporting the hypothesis that fatigue resistance is dependent on the energy demand of a given paradigm. The proportions of type I and type II fibers were similar between diaphragms of starved and control rats, but the cross-sectional area of type II fibers decreased significantly by 18 +/- 7% (P < 0.01). Thus, despite the significant decrease in diaphragm weight after starvation, contractility was preserved and fatigue resistance was increased (low-output paradigm). This is consistent with the decrease in type II fiber area. Refeeding restored all parameters so that there were no longer significant differences in body or diaphragm weight, contractility, fatigue, or fiber types.


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