Effect of electromyostimulation on apoptosis-related factors in denervation and reinnervation of rat skeletal muscles.
Electromyostimulation (EMS) has been utilized to reduce muscle atrophy, but its effect on denervated muscles is controversial. This study was performed to determine the effect of EMS on intramuscular changes and apoptosis during denervation and reinnervation following nerve damage. Rat sciatic nerves were denervated completely (CD) or partially (PD), and EMS was applied for 2 weeks. The same numbers of cases were followed without EMS. Nerve conduction studies, muscle weights, terminal deoxynucleotidyl transferase dUTP nick end labeling (TUNEL) assay to measure apoptotic changes, and Western blot were done 4, 8, and 12 weeks after injury. TUNEL-positive nuclei of CD muscles (18.6 +/- 5.5%) were more prevalent than those of PD muscles (7.5 +/- 3.3%). The EMS group showed greater muscle weight, fewer positive nuclei (4.7 +/- 1.9%), and lower BAX and Bcl-2 expression levels compared with the non-EMS group at 4 weeks after PD but not after CD. Denervated muscle atrophy delayed by EMS may be linked with enhanced anti-apoptosis under the control of apoptosis-related factors.
Lim
Jae-Young
JY
Department of Rehabilitation Medicine, Seoul National University College of Medicine, Seoul National University Bundang Hospital, Seoul, Republic of Korea.
Han
Tai Ryoon
TR
D000818:Animals; D051017:Apoptosis Regulatory Proteins / Q000502:physiology*; D015153:Blotting, Western; D004558:Electric Stimulation; D004576:Electromyography; D004594:Electrophysiology; D020287:In Situ Nick-End Labeling; D008297:Male; D009121:Muscle Denervation; D018482:Muscle, Skeletal / Q000033:anatomy & histology / Q000294:innervation / Q000502:physiology*; D009929:Organ Size / Q000502:physiology; D019253:Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-bcl-2 / Q000096:biosynthesis / Q000235:genetics; D051381:Rats; D017207:Rats, Sprague-Dawley; D051028:bcl-2-Associated X Protein / Q000096:biosynthesis / Q000235:genetics
D051017:Apoptosis Regulatory Proteins; D019253:Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-bcl-2; D051028:bcl-2-Associated X Protein