Cyclic muscle twitch contraction inhibits immobilization-induced muscle contracture and fibrosis in rats.
We investigated the effects of cyclic muscle twitch contraction caused by neuromuscular electrical stimulation (NMES) on immobilization-induced muscle contracture and fibrosis in rats. Twenty-nine rats were divided into control, immobilization, and immobilization with muscle contraction groups. The ankle joints of the immobilization and muscle contraction rats were fixed in full plantar flexion with a plaster cast for 4 weeks. In the muscle contraction group, cyclic muscle twitch contraction of the soleus muscle was induced using a commercial device (1 Hz, 4 ± 2 mA, 60 min/day, 5 times/week) with the ankle joint immobilized. The dorsiflexion range of ankle joint motion in the muscle contraction group was significantly greater than that in the immobilization group. The expressions of fibrosis-related genes (i.e., hypoxia inducible factor-1α, transforming growth factor-β1, α-smooth muscle actin, and types I and III collagen) were significantly decreased in the muscle contraction group compared to the immobilization group. The fluorescence intensities of type I and type III collagen in the perimysium and endomysium in the muscle contraction group were significantly decreased compared to the immobilization group. These results suggest that cyclic muscle twitch contraction induced by NMES might alleviate skeletal muscle fibrosis, reducing immobilization-induced muscle contracture.
a Department of Rehabilitation , Nagasaki Memorial Hospital , Nagasaki , Japan.
Ayana
A
Yoshimura
b Department of Physical Therapy Science, Unit of Physical and Occupational Therapy Sciences , Nagasaki University Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences , Nagasaki , Japan.
Junya
J
Sakamoto
c Department of Rehabilitation , Nagasaki University Hospital , Nagasaki , Japan.|d Department of Locomotive Rehabilitation Science, Unit of Rehabilitation Sciences , Nagasaki University Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences , Nagasaki , Japan.
Yuichiro
Y
Honda
a Department of Rehabilitation , Nagasaki Memorial Hospital , Nagasaki , Japan.|d Department of Locomotive Rehabilitation Science, Unit of Rehabilitation Sciences , Nagasaki University Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences , Nagasaki , Japan.
Hideki
H
Kataoka
b Department of Physical Therapy Science, Unit of Physical and Occupational Therapy Sciences , Nagasaki University Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences , Nagasaki , Japan.
Jiro
J
Nakano
d Department of Locomotive Rehabilitation Science, Unit of Rehabilitation Sciences , Nagasaki University Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences , Nagasaki , Japan.
Minoru
M
Okita
D000818:Animals; D000843:Ankle Joint / Q000378:metabolism / Q000503:physiopathology; D005355:Fibrosis; D019417:Hindlimb Suspension / Q000009:adverse effects*; D008297:Male; D009119:Muscle Contraction; D009124:Muscle Proteins / Q000096:biosynthesis; D018482:Muscle, Skeletal / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology / Q000503:physiopathology; D009135:Muscular Diseases / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000517:prevention & control; D051381:Rats; D017208:Rats, Wistar; D004561:Transcutaneous Electric Nerve Stimulation
D009124:Muscle Proteins
Cyclic muscle twitch contraction; hypoxia; immobilization; muscle fibrosis; transforming growth factor-β1