title: Interaction of resistance training, electroacupuncture and Huang Qi supplementation on skeletal muscle function and GLUT4 protein concentration in rats.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To determine the effects and potential synergy of resistance training (RT), Huang Qi (HQ) herbal supplementation, and electroacupuncture (EA) on skeletal muscle mass, contractile properties, and components of the insulin signalling pathway in healthy Sprague Dawley rats.
  
  
  METHODS
  Female Sprague Dawley rats were randomly assigned to one of five groups (n=8 each): control (CON), RT only, RT with EA (RT-EA), RT with HQ (RT-HQ), and RT combined with both EA and HQ (RT-EA-HQ). RT was performed using ladder climbing every other day for 8 weeks. Sparse-wave EA was applied for 15 min/day, 3 times/week for 8 weeks. HQ supplementation was provided via oral gavage daily for 8 weeks.
  
  
  RESULTS
  RT significantly increased the muscle mass of the flexor hallucis longus (FHL) compared to CON. The isometric twitch and tetanic tension of the FHL in the RT-EA, RT-HQ, and RT-EA-HQ groups were significantly higher compared to CON and RT groups. RT-EA treatment (with or without HQ) significantly increased GLUT4 protein concentration but had no impact on Akt-2.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  EA appears to be an effective treatment modality for increasing muscle mass and function when combined with RT. RT-EA may also be an effective method for improving glucose tolerance as a result of increases in GLUT4 protein concentration.
authors.affiliation: Department of Counseling, Health, and Kinesiology, Texas A&M University-San Antonio, San Antonio, Texas, USA.
authors.forename: Sukho
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Lee
authors.affiliation: School of Exercise & Sport Science, University of Ulsan, Ulsan, Republic of Korea.
authors.forename: Kijeong
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Kim
authors.affiliation: Department of Biology, Saint Mary's College of California, Moraga, California, USA.
authors.forename: Nathalie J
authors.initials: NJ
authors.lastname: Lambrecht
authors.affiliation: Department of Counseling, Health, and Kinesiology, Texas A&M University-San Antonio, San Antonio, Texas, USA.
authors.forename: Junyoung
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Hong
authors.affiliation: Department of Exercise and Health Science, National Taipei University of Nursing and Health Sciences, Taipei, Taiwan.
authors.forename: Yi-Hung
authors.initials: YH
authors.lastname: Liao
authors.affiliation: Department of Nursing/Health & Human Performance, Albany State University, Albany, Georgia, USA.
authors.forename: Aram
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Yoon
authors.affiliation: Department of Biology, Saint Mary's College of California, Moraga, California, USA Department of Kinesiology, California State University, Stanislaus, Turlock, California, USA.
authors.forename: Jeffrey R
authors.initials: JR
authors.lastname: Bernard
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D027885:Astragalus propinquus; D019587:Dietary Supplements; D004365:Drugs, Chinese Herbal / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D015671:Electroacupuncture / Q000379:methods*; D005260:Female; D051275:Glucose Transporter Type 4 / Q000097:blood*; D007328:Insulin / Q000378:metabolism; D018482:Muscle, Skeletal / Q000502:physiology*; D010805:Physical Conditioning, Animal / Q000379:methods / Q000502:physiology; D011897:Random Allocation; D051381:Rats; D017207:Rats, Sprague-Dawley; D055070:Resistance Training / Q000379:methods*; D015398:Signal Transduction / Q000502:physiology
chemical_list: D004365:Drugs, Chinese Herbal; D051275:Glucose Transporter Type 4; D007328:Insulin; C495694:Slc2a4 protein, rat; C027492:Huang Qi
keywords: COMPLEMENTARY MEDICINE