title: The effects of electromyostimulation application timing on denervated skeletal muscle atrophy.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  In this study we evaluated the effect of electromyostimulation (EMS) on myosin heavy chain (MHC) isoform expression in denervated rat muscles to determine the optimal timing for EMS application.
  
  
  METHODS
  EMS was initiated on post-injury day 1 for the group with denervation receiving immediate EMS (DIEMS) and on post-injury day 15 for the group with denervation receiving delayed EMS (DDEMS) in rat denervated muscles. Muscle wet weight and muscle fiber cross-sectional area (FCSA) were measured. MHC isoforms were analyzed in both protein homogenates and single muscle fibers.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The expression levels of IIx and IIb isoforms of MHC were significantly lower and higher, respectively, in the gastrocnemius muscles of the DIEMS group, but not the DDEMS group. The DIEMS group also showed larger FCSA and a lower proportion of hybrid single fibers compared with the DDEMS group.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  These results indicate that immediate EMS is more effective than delayed EMS for aiding recovery of denervation-induced MHC changes. Muscle Nerve 56: E154-E161, 2017.
authors.affiliation: Department of Rehabilitation Medicine, National Medical Center, Seoul, Republic of Korea.|Department of Biomedical Engineering, Seoul National University College of Medicine, Seoul, Republic of Korea.
authors.forename: Eun Sil
authors.initials: ES
authors.lastname: Koh
authors.affiliation: Department of Biomedical Engineering, Seoul National University College of Medicine, Seoul, Republic of Korea.
authors.forename: Hee Chan
authors.initials: HC
authors.lastname: Kim
authors.affiliation: Mechanic & Molecular Myology Laboratory, Department of Rehabilitation Medicine, Seoul National University Bundang Hospital, 173-82, Gumi-ro, Bundang-gu, Seongnam-si, Gyeonggi-do, 13620, Republic of Korea.
authors.forename: Jae-Young
authors.initials: JY
authors.lastname: Lim
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D004599:Electric Stimulation Therapy / Q000379:methods*; D008297:Male; D009121:Muscle Denervation / Q000379:methods*; D018482:Muscle, Skeletal / Q000294:innervation* / Q000502:physiology*; D009133:Muscular Atrophy / Q000503:physiopathology* / Q000628:therapy*; D051381:Rats; D017207:Rats, Sprague-Dawley; D013997:Time Factors
keywords: application timing; denervation; electromyostimulation; muscle atrophy; myosin heavy chain; skeletal muscle