title: Skeletal muscle plasticity after hemorrhagic stroke in rats: influence of spontaneous physical activity.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The aim of this study was to determine the contribution of spontaneous post-stroke physical activity to skeletal muscle plasticity after stroke.
  
  
  METHODS
  A randomized controlled study was conducted of 24 young adult male Sprague-Dawley rats assigned to three experimental groups: (1) STR-hemorrhagic stroke in the right caudoputamen; (2) SHAM-procedural control; and (3) CONT-no intervention (n = 8/group). Neurologic testing was performed before and 2 wks after stroke. Spontaneous physical activity was monitored five nights per week for 1 wk preoperatively and 2 wks postoperatively. Two weeks after stroke induction, bilateral soleus and tibialis anterior muscles were harvested. Myofiber cross-sectional areas were determined, and fiber typing was performed with immunohistochemistry.
  
  
  RESULTS
  STR animals demonstrated neurologic deficit in the contralesional hindlimb 2 wks after stroke. Quantity of spontaneous physical activity did not differ between groups within each of the week-long study intervals. No significant difference was found in fiber types or cross-sectional areas in the soleus muscle of STR vs. CONT groups. However, the tibialis anterior muscle of the contralesional hindlimbs of the STR animals showed atrophy in 2x and 1 + 2x myofibers, as well as type 1 hypertrophy.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Skeletal muscle adaptation occurs by 2 wks post-stroke in this model. It is muscle specific and appears to be influenced by factors other than spontaneous post-stroke physical activity.
authors: Program in Physical Therapy, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN 55455, USA.
authors: LeAnn M
authors: LM
authors: Snow
authors: Walter C
authors: WC
authors: Low
authors: LaDora V
authors: LV
authors: Thompson
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D002543:Cerebral Hemorrhage / Q000503:physiopathology*; D004195:Disease Models, Animal; D008297:Male; D009043:Motor Activity; D018482:Muscle, Skeletal / Q000503:physiopathology*; D009133:Muscular Atrophy; D051381:Rats; D017207:Rats, Sprague-Dawley; D020521:Stroke / Q000503:physiopathology*