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Muscle-specific atrophy after 6 weeks of overtraining with eccentric muscle actions in rats.

Stauber WT; Willems MET

Med Sci Sports Exerc 2003 May; 35(5)(Suppl 1):S238

http://journals.lww.com/acsm-msse/Citation/2003/05001/Muscle_Specific_Atrophy_After_6_Weeks_of.1324.aspx

20029555

To examine adaptations for slow- and fast-twitch muscles after overtraining with eccentric muscle actions. Using subcutaneous electrical stimulation (70 Hz, 0.2 ms pulse duration, 20-40 V), plantar flexor muscles (i.e., slow-twitch soleus and fast-twitch plantaris and gastrocnemius muscles) of female Sprague Dawley rats (4-5 mo) were trained (5 d/wk for 6 wks) with eccentric muscle actions (5x10). Eccentric muscle actions occurred between ankle positions of 140 degrees to 40 degrees (velocity approximately 400 degrees ·s-1) and were followed by unresisted concentric muscle actions. Rats limited to cage activity served as control. Weights of adrenal glands and plantar flexor muscles were taken. Fiber size distributions and mean fiber areas were determined using serial cross-sections (thickness 8 um) and image analysis. Fiber type shifts were documented for the soleus muscle using immunohistochemistry. Adrenal glands were enlarged by 17% (overtraining: 72 +/- 3 mg (mean +/- SE), control: 62 +/- 1 mg (n = 16 in each group), p < 0.05). Mass of the soleus muscle was decreased by 19% (overtraining: 116 +/- 3 mg (n = 16), control: 130 +/- 3 mg (n = 10), p < 0.05). After overtraining, smaller fiber sizes were present in the gastrocnemius medialis and soleus muscles resulting in a decrease of the mean fiber areas by 26% and 13%, respectively (p < 0.05). An atrophic response was not observed for the plantaris muscle. In the soleus muscle, the number of fast fibers increased from 17.4 +/- 0.9% (control) to 22.0 +/- 1.5% (overtraining) - an increase by 26% (p < 0.05). Overtraining with eccentric muscle actions resulted in atrophy in the soleus and gastrocnemius muscles but not in the plantaris muscle. Adaptation to overtraining with eccentric muscle actions appears to be muscle-specific and was largest for slow-twitch muscles.

Muscles; Musculoskeletal system; Skeletal system; Injuries; Muscle tissue; Injury prevention; Musculoskeletal system disorders; Diseases; Laboratory animals; Animals; Animal studies

MSPEDA

20030501

Abstract

mwillems@hsc.wvu.edu

868663

Grant

2003

Grant-Number-R01-OH-002918

5

0195-9131

Disease and Injury: Musculoskeletal Disorders of the Upper Extremities

Medicine and Science in Sports and Exercise

WV

West Virginia University, Morgantown, West Virginia