title: Characteristics of locomotion, muscle strength, and muscle tissue in regenerating rat skeletal muscles.
abstract: Although numerous studies have aimed to elucidate the mechanisms used to repair the structure and function of injured skeletal muscles, it remains unclear how and when movement recovers following damage. We performed a temporal analysis to characterize the changes in movement, muscle function, and muscle structure after muscle injury induced by the drop-mass technique. At each time-point, movement recovery was determined by ankle kinematic analysis of locomotion, and functional recovery was represented by isometric force. As a histological analysis, the cross-sectional area of myotubes was measured to examine structural regeneration. The dorsiflexion angle of the ankle, as assessed by kinematic analysis of locomotion, increased after injury and then returned to control levels by day 14 post-injury. The isometric force returned to normal levels by day 21 post-injury. However, the size of the myotubes did not reach normal levels, even at day 21 post-injury. These results indicate that recovery of locomotion occurs prior to recovery of isometric force and that functional recovery occurs earlier than structural regeneration. Thus, it is suggested that recovery of the movement and function of injured skeletal muscles might be insufficient as markers for estimating the degree of neuromuscular system reconstitution.
authors.affiliation: Department of Physical Therapy, Faculty of Comprehensive Rehabilitation, Osaka Prefecture University, 3-7-30 Habikino, Habikino city, Osaka 583-8555, Japan. iwata@rehab.osakafu-u.ac.jp
authors.forename: Akira
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Iwata
authors.forename: Satoshi
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Fuchioka
authors.forename: Koichi
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Hiraoka
authors.forename: Mitsuhiko
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Masuhara
authors.forename: Katsuya
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Kami
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D015415:Biomarkers; D001696:Biomechanical Phenomena; D004195:Disease Models, Animal; D020233:Gait Disorders, Neurologic / Q000209:etiology / Q000473:pathology / Q000503:physiopathology*; D007537:Isometric Contraction / Q000502:physiology; D008297:Male; D018485:Muscle Fibers, Skeletal / Q000473:pathology / Q000502:physiology; D053580:Muscle Strength / Q000502:physiology*; D018482:Muscle, Skeletal / Q000293:injuries* / Q000473:pathology / Q000503:physiopathology*; D009133:Muscular Atrophy / Q000209:etiology / Q000473:pathology / Q000503:physiopathology; D009135:Muscular Diseases / Q000150:complications / Q000473:pathology / Q000503:physiopathology*; D011237:Predictive Value of Tests; D051381:Rats; D017208:Rats, Wistar; D012038:Regeneration / Q000502:physiology*; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity; D013997:Time Factors
chemical_list: D015415:Biomarkers