Electrical stimulation based on chronaxie reduces atrogin-1 and myoD gene expressions in denervated rat muscle

• Published in: Muscle & nerve Vol. 35; no. 1; pp. 87 - 97
• Main Authors: Russo, Thiago Luiz, Peviani, Sabrina Messa, Freria, Camila Marques, Gigo-Benato, Davilene, Geuna, Stefano, Salvini, Tania Fátima
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Hoboken Wiley Subscription Services, Inc., A Wiley Company 01.01.2007; Wiley
• Subjects: Animals; atrogin-1; Biological and medical sciences; Cell Enlargement; Chronaxy - physiology; denervation; Disease Models, Animal; Diseases of striated muscles. Neuromuscular diseases; Down-Regulation - physiology; Electric Stimulation Therapy - methods; electrical stimulation; Fundamental and applied biological sciences. Psychology; Gene Expression Regulation - physiology; Male; Medical sciences; Muscle Contraction - physiology; Muscle Denervation; Muscle Fibers, Skeletal - metabolism; Muscle Fibers, Skeletal - pathology; Muscle Proteins - genetics; Muscle, Skeletal - metabolism; Muscle, Skeletal - pathology; Muscle, Skeletal - physiopathology; Muscular Atrophy - genetics; Muscular Atrophy - metabolism; Muscular Atrophy - therapy; myoD; MyoD Protein - genetics; Neurology; Rats; Rats, Wistar; RNA, Messenger - metabolism; Sciatic Neuropathy - physiopathology; skeletal muscle; SKP Cullin F-Box Protein Ligases - genetics; Striated muscle. Tendons; Time Factors; Treatment Outcome; Vertebrates: osteoarticular system, musculoskeletal system; Human; electrical stimulation; atrogin-1; Rat; denervation; Electrical stimulus; Rodentia; Muscular fiber; Striated muscle; Muscle contraction; Atrophy; Electrodes; Vertebrata; myoD; Mammalia; Treatment; Rehabilitation; skeletal muscle
• ISSN: 0148-639X; 1097-4598
• DOI: 10.1002/mus.20668

Denervation induces muscle fiber atrophy and changes in the gene expression rates of skeletal muscle. Electrical stimulation (ES) is a procedure generally used to treat denervated muscles in humans. This study evaluated the effect of ES based on chronaxie and rheobase on the expression of the myoD and atrogin‐1 genes in denervated tibialis anterior (TA) muscle of Wistar rats. Five groups were examined: (1) denervated (D); (2) D+ES; (3) sham denervation; (4) normal (N); and (5) N+ES. Twenty muscle contractions were stimulated every 48 h using surface electrodes. After 28 days, ES significantly decreased the expression of myoD and atrogin‐1 in D+ES compared to the D group. However, ES did not prevent muscle‐fiber atrophy after denervation. Thus, ES based on chronaxie values and applied to denervated muscles using surface electrodes, as normally used in human rehabilitation, was able to reduce the myoD and atrogin‐1 gene expressions, which are related to muscular growth and atrophy, respectively. The results of this study provide new information for the treatment of denervated skeletal muscle using surface ES. Muscle Nerve, 2006