Mohammad-Ali Bahreinipour1, Siyavash Joukar2, Fariborz Hovanloo3, Hamid Najafipour4, Vida Naderi5, Alireza Rajiamirhasani5, Saeed Esmaeili-Mahani6. 1. Department of Physical Education, Faculty of Shahid Chamran, Kerman Branch, Technical and Vocational University (YVU), Tehran, Iran. 2. Neuroscience Research Center, Institute of Neuropharmacology, Kerman University of Medical Sciences, Kerman, Iran; Physiology Research Center, Institute of Neuropharmacology, Kerman University of Medical Sciences, Kerman, Iran; Cardiovascular Research Center, Institute of Basic and Clinical Physiology Sciences, Kerman University of Medical Science, Kerman, Iran; Department of Physiology and Pharmacology, School of Medicine, Kerman University of Medical Sciences, Kerman, Iran. Electronic address: jokar@kmu.ac.ir. 3. Physical Education and Sport Science College, Shahid Beheshti University, Tehran, Iran. 4. Cardiovascular Research Center, Institute of Basic and Clinical Physiology Sciences, Kerman University of Medical Science, Kerman, Iran; Department of Physiology and Pharmacology, School of Medicine, Kerman University of Medical Sciences, Kerman, Iran. 5. Physiology Research Center, Institute of Neuropharmacology, Kerman University of Medical Sciences, Kerman, Iran. 6. Department of Biology, Faculty of Sciences, Shahid Bahonar University of Kerman, Kerman, Iran.
Abstract
AIMS: Existing evidence emphasize the role of mitochondrial dysfunction in sarcopenia which is revealed as loss of skeletal muscle mass and neuromuscular junction remodeling. We assessed the effect of low-intensity aerobic training along with blood flow restriction on muscle hypertrophy index, muscle-specific kinase (MuSK), a pivotal protein of the neuromuscular junction and Peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor gamma co-activator 1-alpha (PGC-1α) in aged male rats. MAIN METHODS: Animals groups were control (CTL), sham (Sh), leg blood flow restriction (BFR), exercise (Ex), sham + exercise (Sh + Ex), and BFR plus exercise (BFR + Ex) groups. The exercise groups were trained with low intensity exercise for 10 weeks. 48 h after the last training session, animals were sacrificed under anesthesia. Soleus and EDL muscles were isolated, hypertrophy index was estimated and MuSK and PGC-1α were measured by western blot method. KEY FINDINGS: Hypertrophy index enhanced in soleus and Extensor digitorum longus (EDL) muscles of BFR + Ex group (P < 0.01 versus CTL and Sh groups, and P < 0.001 versus other groups). The MuSK protein of soleus and EDL muscles increased in BFR + Ex group (P < 0.01 and P < 0.001, respectively) in comparison with CTL and Sh groups. In BFR + Ex group, the PGC-1α protein increased in both soleus and EDL (P < 0.001 compared to other groups). Also the PGC-1α of soleus muscle was higher in Ex and Sh + Ex groups versus CTL and Sh groups (P < 0.05). SIGNIFICANCE: Findings suggest that low endurance exercise plus BFR improves the MuSK and hypertrophy index of both slow and fast muscles of elderly rats probably through the rise of PGC-1α expression.
AIMS: Existing evidence emphasize the role of mitochondrial dysfunction in sarcopenia which is revealed as loss of skeletal muscle mass and neuromuscular junction remodeling. We assessed the effect of low-intensity aerobic training along with blood flow restriction on muscle hypertrophy index, muscle-specific kinase (MuSK), a pivotal protein of the neuromuscular junction and Peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor gamma co-activator 1-alpha (PGC-1α) in aged male rats. MAIN METHODS: Animals groups were control (CTL), sham (Sh), leg blood flow restriction (BFR), exercise (Ex), sham + exercise (Sh + Ex), and BFR plus exercise (BFR + Ex) groups. The exercise groups were trained with low intensity exercise for 10 weeks. 48 h after the last training session, animals were sacrificed under anesthesia. Soleus and EDL muscles were isolated, hypertrophy index was estimated and MuSK and PGC-1α were measured by western blot method. KEY FINDINGS:Hypertrophy index enhanced in soleus and Extensor digitorum longus (EDL) muscles of BFR + Ex group (P < 0.01 versus CTL and Sh groups, and P < 0.001 versus other groups). The MuSK protein of soleus and EDL muscles increased in BFR + Ex group (P < 0.01 and P < 0.001, respectively) in comparison with CTL and Sh groups. In BFR + Ex group, the PGC-1α protein increased in both soleus and EDL (P < 0.001 compared to other groups). Also the PGC-1α of soleus muscle was higher in Ex and Sh + Ex groups versus CTL and Sh groups (P < 0.05). SIGNIFICANCE: Findings suggest that low endurance exercise plus BFR improves the MuSK and hypertrophy index of both slow and fast muscles of elderly rats probably through the rise of PGC-1α expression.