Effects of Combination Therapy of Heat Stress and Muscle Contraction Exercise Induced by Neuromuscular Electrical Stimulation on Disuse Atrophy in the Rat Gastrocnemius

[Purpose] We investigated the effect of combination therapy, consisting of heat stress and muscle contraction exercise induced by neuromuscular electrical stimulation (NMES), for the prevention of hindlimb suspension (HS)-induced disuse atrophy in rat gastrocnemius (GAS) muscles, and clarified the effective exercise intensity for this therapy. [Methods] The experimental group was divided into the following six groups: 1) HS only; 2) HS plus heat stress (Heat); 3) HS plus low-intensity exercise (LEx); 4) HS plus combination therapy of heat stress and low-intensity exercise (H+LEx); 5) HS plus high-intensity exercise (HEx); and 6) HS plus combination therapy of heat stress and high-intensity exercise (H+HEx). Before, and at the end of the experimental period, muscle wet weight relative to total body weight, muscle fiber diameter, and heat shock protein (Hsp) 72 content in GAS muscles were evaluated. [Results] In the H+LEx and HEx groups, atrophy of all muscle fiber types in the deep and superficial regions was prevented. Hsp 72 expression was upregulated in the Heat, H+LEx, and H+HEx groups. [Conclusion] Our results suggest that low-intensity exercise is more effective than high-intensity exercise for the prevention of disuse muscle atrophy using heat stress and exercise combination therapy. The expression of Hsp72, which is induced by heat stress, may be related to this preventative mechanism.

[1]  L. Mcnaughton,et al.  Daily hypoxia increases basal monocyte HSP72 expression in healthy human subjects , 2011, Amino Acids.

[2]  M. Tarnopolsky,et al.  Low‐volume resistance exercise attenuates the decline in strength and muscle mass associated with immobilization , 2010, Muscle & nerve.

[3]  L. Mcnaughton,et al.  The effect of acute hypoxia on heat shock protein 72 expression and oxidative stress in vivo , 2010, European Journal of Applied Physiology.

[4]  T. Ookawara,et al.  Inhibitory Effect of a Combination of Thermotherapy with Exercise Therapy on Progression of Muscle Atrophy , 2010 .

[5]  M. Okita,et al.  Low‐level laser irradiation promotes the recovery of atrophied gastrocnemius skeletal muscle in rats , 2009, Experimental physiology.

[6]  S. Murakami,et al.  Thermal preconditioning prevents fiber type transformation of the unloading induced-atrophied muscle in rats , 2009, Journal of Muscle Research and Cell Motility.

[7]  F. Esposito,et al.  Cellular distribution of Hsp70 expression in rat skeletal muscles. Effects of moderate exercise training and chronic hypoxia , 2008, Cell Stress and Chaperones.

[8]  B. Schoser,et al.  Molecular biomarkers monitoring human skeletal muscle fibres and microvasculature following long‐term bed rest with and without countermeasures , 2008, Journal of anatomy.

[9]  Y. Ohira,et al.  Skeletal Muscle Hypertrophy Induced by Low-Intensity Exercise with Heat-Stress in Healthy Human Subjects , 2007 .

[10]  M. Locke,et al.  Heat stress inhibits skeletal muscle hypertrophy , 2007, Cell stress & chaperones.

[11]  M. Knox,et al.  Effect of flywheel-based resistance exercise on processes contributing to muscle atrophy during unloading in adult rats. , 2006, Journal of applied physiology.

[12]  S. Dodd,et al.  Heat treatment reduces oxidative stress and protects muscle mass during immobilization. , 2005, American journal of physiology. Regulatory, integrative and comparative physiology.

[13]  Y. Ohira,et al.  Heat Stress as a Countermeasure for Prevention of Muscle Atrophy in Microgravity Environment , 2005 .

[14]  A. Ascensão,et al.  Acute and chronic exposition of mice to severe hypoxia: the role of acclimatization against skeletal muscle oxidative stress. , 2005, International journal of sports medicine.

[15]  Y. Ohira,et al.  Heat stress facilitates the recovery of atrophied soleus muscle in rat. , 2004, The Japanese journal of physiology.

[16]  D. Desplanches,et al.  Skeletal muscle HSP72 response to mechanical unloading: influence of endurance training. , 2004, Acta physiologica Scandinavica.

[17]  A. Ascensão,et al.  Acute and severe hypobaric hypoxia-induced muscle oxidative stress in mice: the role of glutathione against oxidative damage , 2004, European Journal of Applied Physiology.

[18]  N. Secher,et al.  Glucose ingestion attenuates the exercise-induced increase in circulating heat shock protein 72 and heat shock protein 60 in humans , 2004, Cell stress & chaperones.

[19]  D. Latchman.  Heat shock proteins and cardiac protection. , 2001, Cardiovascular research.

[20]  S. Powers,et al.  Heat stress attenuates skeletal muscle atrophy in hindlimb-unweighted rats. , 2000, Journal of applied physiology.

[21]  D. Thomason,et al.  Decreased polysomal HSP-70 may slow polypeptide elongation during skeletal muscle atrophy. , 1995, The American journal of physiology.

[22]  D. Thomason,et al.  Soleus muscle nascent polypeptide chain elongation slows protein synthesis rate during non-weight-bearing activity. , 1994, The American journal of physiology.

[23]  F. Booth,et al.  Atrophy of the soleus muscle by hindlimb unweighting. , 1990, Journal of applied physiology.

[24]  D. Thomason,et al.  Time course of soleus muscle myosin expression during hindlimb suspension and recovery. , 1987, Journal of applied physiology.

[25]  C. Davies,et al.  Adaptive response of mammalian skeletal muscle to exercise with high loads , 1984, European Journal of Applied Physiology and Occupational Physiology.