Biomedical subjects

G A Dudley

Publications and source records attributed to G A Dudley.

At least 37 records · Page 2Linked to original sources

PubMed2000

Influence of complete spinal cord injury on skeletal muscle mechanics within the first 6 months of injury.

In this study we examined the influence of complete spinal cord injury (SCI) on the mechanical characteristics of skeletal muscle in vivo within 6 months of the injury. Surface electrical stimulation (ES) was applied to the left m. quadriceps femoris of patients at 6, 11 and 24 weeks after injury. Surface ES was also applied to seven able-bodied controls (AB) at two time points 18 weeks apart. ES consisted of 2 bouts of 20, 1-s isometric contractions with 2 s and 2 min of rest between contractions and bouts, respectively. The time from 20-80% of peak torque (rise time) and the half relaxation time (1/2 RT) were determined for the first and for the last few contractions. Force loss over repeat contractions was greater in SCI than AB (27% vs 95%; P = 0.0001), and did not change over the 18-week period. Rise time did not change over repeat contractions, was not different between groups, and nor did it change over the 18-week period (range: 150-172 ms). 1/2 RT showed several group differences. Overall, 1/2 RT was longer at the beginning of ES in SCI than AB [mean (SE) 133 (15) ms vs 90 (6) ms, P = 0.037]. Slowing of relaxation time with force loss over repeat contractions was found in SCI at 24 weeks after injury [167 (18) ms, P = 0.016], but not at 6 [128 (14) ms] or 11 [145 (12) ms] weeks after injury. AB, in contrast, showed prolonged relaxation times, with force loss at both time points [115 (10) ms and 113 (11) ms; P = 0.0001]. The results indicate that SCI alters the relaxation but not contractile properties of mixed skeletal muscle within the first 24 weeks of injury. Altered calcium handling and contraction-induced fiber injury are suggested to explain the slower relaxation time per se, and the prolonged relaxation with force loss observed after SCI.

Adolescent↗

PubMed1999

Influence of complete spinal cord injury on skeletal muscle cross-sectional area within the first 6 months of injury.

In this study we examined the influence of complete spinal cord injury (SCI) on affected skeletal muscle morphology within 6 months of SCI. Magnetic resonance (MR) images of the leg and thigh were taken as soon as patients were clinically stable, on average 6 weeks post injury, and 11 and 24 weeks after SCI to assess average muscle cross-sectional area (CSA). MR images were also taken from nine able-bodied controls at two time points separated from one another by 18 weeks. The controls showed no change in any variable over time. The patients showed differential atrophy (P = 0.0001) of the ankle plantar or dorsi flexor muscles. The average CSA of m. gastrocnemius and m. soleus decreased by 24% and 12%, respectively (P = 0.0001). The m. tibialis anterior CSA showed no change (P = 0.3644). As a result of this muscle-specific atrophy, the ratio of average CSA of m. gastrocnemius to m. soleus, m. gastrocnemius to m. tibialis anterior and m. soleus to m. tibialis anterior declined (P = 0.0001). The average CSA of m, quadriceps femoris, the hamstring muscle group and the adductor muscle group decreased by 16%, 14% and 16%, respectively (P< or =0.0045). No differential atrophy was observed among these thigh muscle groups, thus the ratio of their CSAs did not change (P = 0.6210). The average CSA of atrophied skeletal muscle in the patients was 45-80% of that of age- and weight-matched able-bodied controls 24 weeks after injury. In conclusion, the results of this study suggest that there is marked loss of contractile protein early after SCI which differs among affected skeletal muscles. While the mechanism(s) responsible for loss of muscle size are not clear, it is suggested that the development of muscular imbalance as well as diminution of muscle mass would compromise force potential early after SCI.

Adolescent↗

PubMed1999

A simple means of increasing muscle size after spinal cord injury: a pilot study.

This study tested that hypothesis that skeletal muscle within a year of spinal cord injury (SCI) would respond to intermittent high force loading by showing an increase in size. Three males about 46 weeks post clinically complete SCI underwent surface electrical stimulation of their left or right m. quadriceps femoris 2 days per week for 8 weeks to evoke 4 sets of ten isometric or dynamic actions each session. Conditioning increased average cross-sectional area of m. quadriceps femoris, assessed by magnetic resonance imaging, by 20+/-1% (p = 0.0103). This reversed 48 weeks of atrophy such that m. quadriceps femoris 54 weeks after SCI was the same size as when the patients were first studied 6 weeks after injury. The results suggest that skeletal muscle is remarkably responsive to intermittent, high force loading after almost one year of little if any contractile activity.

Adult↗

PubMed1999

Surface electrical stimulation of skeletal muscle after spinal cord injury.

STUDY DESIGN: Survey. OBJECTIVE: Examine muscle contractile activity during electrical stimulation (ES) after spinal cord injury (SCI). SETTING: General community of Athens, Georgia, USA. METHODS: Eight clinically complete SCI adults (C6 to T12) 4+/-1 (mean+/-SE) years post injury and eight able-bodied adults were studied. Surface ES was applied to the left m. quadriceps femoris for three sets of 10, 1 s isometric actions (50 Hz trains, 400 micros biphasic pulses, 50 micros phase delay, 1 s: 1 s duty cycle) with 90 s of rest between sets. Current was set to evoke isometric torque that was (1) sufficient to elicit knee extension with 2.3 kg attached to the ankle (low level ES), and (2) intended to equal 30% (mid level ES) or 60% of maximal voluntary torque of able-bodied adults (high level ES, able-bodied only). The absolute and relative cross-sectional area (CSA) of m. quadriceps femoris that was stimulated as reflected by contrast shift in magnetic resonance images and torque were measured. RESULTS: Six+/-2, 20+/-2 and 38+/-4% of the average CSA of m. quadriceps was stimulated during low, mid and high level ES, respectively, for able-bodied. Corresponding values for SCI for low and mid level ES were greater (61+/-12 and 92+/-7%, P = 0.0002). Torque was related to the CSA (cm2) of stimulated muscle (Nm = 3.53 x stimulated CSA+13, r2 = 0.68, P = 0.0010), thus ES of a greater per cent of m. quadriceps femoris in SCI was attributed to their smaller muscle (24+/-3 vs 73+/-5 cm2, P = 0.0001). The decline in torque ranged from 9+/-l to 15+/-4% within and over sets for low, mid or high level ES in able-bodied. SCI showed greater (P = 0.0001) fatigue (19+/-3 to 47+/-6%). CONCLUSION: The territory of muscle activation by surface electrical stimulation varies among SCI patients. Given sufficient current, a large portion of the muscle of interest can be stimulated. The resulting torque is modest, however, compared to that attainable in able-bodied individuals due to the small size and limited fatigue resistance of skeletal muscle years after spinal cord injury.

Adolescent↗

PubMed1999

Influence of complete spinal cord injury on skeletal muscle within 6 mo of injury.

This study examined the influence of spinal cord injury (SCI) on affected skeletal muscle. The right vastus lateralis muscle was biopsied in 12 patients as soon as they were clinically stable (average 6 wk after SCI), and 11 and 24 wk after injury. Samples were also taken from nine able-bodied controls at two time points 18 wk apart. Surface electrical stimulation (ES) was applied to the left quadriceps femoris muscle to assess fatigue at these same time intervals. Biopsies were analyzed for fiber type percent and cross-sectional area (CSA), fiber type-specific succinic dehydrogenase (SDH) and alpha-glycerophosphate dehydrogenase (GPDH) activities, and myosin heavy chain percent. Controls showed no change in any variable over time. Patients showed 27-56% atrophy (P = 0.000) of type I, IIa, and IIax+IIx fibers from 6 to 24 wk after injury, resulting in fiber CSA approximately one-third that of controls. Their fiber type specific SDH and GPDH activities increased (P </= 0.001) from 32 to 90% over the 18 wk, thereby approaching or surpassing control values. The relative CSA of type I fibers and percentage of myosin heavy chain type I did not change. There was apparent conversion among type II fiber subtypes; type IIa decreased and type IIax+IIx increased (P </= 0.012). Force loss during ES did not change over time for either group but was greater (P = 0.000) for SCI patients than for controls overall (27 vs. 9%). The results indicate that vastus lateralis muscle shows marked fiber atrophy, no change in the proportion of type I fibers, and a relative independence of metabolic enzyme levels from activation during the first 24 wk after clinically complete SCI. Over this time, quadriceps femoris muscle showed moderately greater force loss during ES in patients than in controls. It is suggested that the predominant response of mixed human skeletal muscle within 6 mo of SCI is loss of contractile protein. Therapeutic interventions could take advantage of this to increase muscle mass.

Adolescent↗

PubMed1998

Muscle fiber type-specific myofibrillar actomyosin Ca2+ ATPase activity in multiple sclerosis.

Biopsies of tibialis anterior muscle were analyzed to determine if increased energy demand of contraction, as indirectly reflected by myofibrillar actomyosin Ca2+ ATPase (qATPase) activity, contributes to symptomatic fatigue in multiple sclerosis (MS). qATPase activity showed a fiber-type effect, IIax > IIa > I. Fiber-type qATPase activity, however, was not different between MS patients and healthy controls. We suggest that fatigue in MS does not reflect increased energy demand of contraction.

Calcium↗

PubMed1998

Increased vulnerability to eccentric exercise-induced dysfunction and muscle injury after concentric training.

OBJECTIVE: To test whether concentric (CON)-only resistance training increases the vulnerability to eccentric (ECC) exercise-induced dysfunction and muscle injury. DESIGN: Before-after trial. SETTING: General community. PATIENTS OR OTHER PARTICIPANTS: Nine men (77 +/- 3 kg body weight) who were not trained in resistance exercise. INTERVENTION: Nine weeks of CON-only training of the left quadriceps femoris (QF); performance of 10 sets of 10 ECC actions with each QF using a load equivalent to 85% of the posttraining CON 1-repetition maximum (1RM). MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: CON 1RM for the untrained and trained QF measured immediately after training, and again 1, 3, 8, and 10 days after the bout of ECC exercise; cross-sectional area and spin-spin relaxation time (T2) of each QF determined by magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) before and 3 days after the ECC exercise bout. RESULTS: As a result of the ECC bout, the CON 1RM was reduced by approximately 30% in the trained limb and 16% in the untrained limb. Strength did not return to normal in the trained limb even after 10 days of recovery; however, in the untrained limb strength was restored by day 8. As assessed by MRI, the trained limb showed a greater area of muscle injury compared with the untrained QF. The T2 of the injured area was similar in both limbs, suggesting that the intensity of injury was similar, but more widespread in the trained limb. CONCLUSION: CON-only training increases the vulnerability to ECC exercise-induced dysfunction and muscle injury, probably by increasing the CON 1RM, thus allowing the individual to be exposed to greater ECC loading potential.

Analysis of Variance↗

PubMed1998

Muscle use during dynamic knee extension: implication for perfusion and metabolism.

Dynamic one-legged knee extension (DKE) is commonly used to examine physiological responses to "aerobic" exercise. Muscle blood flow during DKE is often expressed relative to quadriceps femoris muscle mass irrespective of work rate. This is contrary to the notion that increased force is achieved by recruitment in large muscles. The purpose of this study, therefore, was to determine muscle use during DKE. Six subjects had magnetic resonance images taken of their quadriceps femoris before and after 4 min of DKE at 20 and 40 W. Muscle use was determined by shifts in T2. The cross-sectional area of quadriceps femoris that had an elevated T2 was 16 +/- 1% (mean +/- SE) preexercise, and 54 +/- 5 and 94 +/- 4% after 20- and 40-W DKE, respectively. Volume of quadriceps femoris increased 11.4 +/- 0. 2% (P = 0.006), from 2,230 +/- 233 cm3 before exercise to 2,473 +/- 232 cm3 after 40-W DKE. Extrapolation of these data indicates that 1, 301 +/- 111 cm3 of quadriceps femoris were engaged during 20-W DKE compared with 2,292 +/- 154 cm3 during 40-W DKE. By using muscle blood flow data for submaximal DKE at 20 W [P. Andersen and B. Saltin. J. Physiol. (Lond.) 366: 233-249, 1985; and L. B. Rowell, B. Saltin, B. Kiens, and N. J. Christensen. Am. J. Physiol. 251 (Heart Circ. Physiol. 20): H1038-H1044, 1986] and estimating muscle use in those studies from our data (total muscle mass x 0.54), extrapolated blood flow to active muscle (263 and 278 ml . min-1 . 100 g-1, respectively) is comparable to that obtained during peak aerobic DKE when expressed relative to total muscle mass (243 and 250 ml . min-1 . 100 g-1, respectively). These findings indicate that increased power during aerobic DKE is achieved by recruitment. Additionally, they suggest that blood flow to the active quadriceps femoris muscle does not increase with increases in submaximal work rate but instead is maximal to support aerobic metabolism. Thus increases in muscle blood flow are directed to newly recruited muscle, not to increased perfusion of muscle already engaged.

Adult↗

PubMed1997

Specificity of resistance training responses in neck muscle size and strength.

This study examined hypertrophy after head extension resistance training to assess which muscles of the complicated cervical neuromuscular system were used in this activity. We also determined if conventional resistance exercises, which are likely to evoke isometric action of the neck, induce generalized hypertrophy of the cervical muscle. Twenty-two active college students were studied. [mean (SE) age, weight and height: 21 (1) years, 71 (4) kg and 173 (3) cm, respectively]. Subjects were assigned to one of three groups: RESX (head extension exercise and other resistance exercises), RES (resistance exercises without specific neck exercise), or CON (no training). Groups RESX (n = 8) and RES (n = 6) trained 3 days/week for 12 weeks with large-muscle mass exercises (squat, deadlift, push press, bent row and mid-thigh pull). Group RESX also performed three sets of ten repetitions of a head extension exercise 3 days/week with a load equal to the 3 x 10 repetition maximum (RM). Group CON (n = 8) was a control group. The cross-sectional area (CSA) of nine individual muscles or muscle groups was determined by magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) of the cervical region. The CSA data were averaged over four contiguous transaxial slices in which all muscles of interest were visible. The 3 x 10 RM for the head extension exercise increased for RESX after training [from 17.9 (1.0) to 23.9 (1.4) kg, P < 0.05] but not for RES [from 17.6 (1.4) to 17.7 (1.9) kg] or CON [from 10.1 (2.2) to 10.3 (2.1) kg]. RESX showed an increase in total neck muscle CSA after training [from 19.5 (3.0) to 22.0 (3.6) cm2, P < 0.05], but RES and CON did not [from 19.6 (2.9) to 19.7 (2.9) cm2 and 17.0 (2.5) to 17.0 (2.4) cm2, respectively]. This hypertrophy for RESX was due mainly to increases in CSA of 23.9 (3.2), 24.0 (5.8), and 24.9 (5.3)% for the splenius capitis, and semispinalis capitis and cervicis muscles, respectively. The lack of generalized neck muscle hypertrophy in RES was not due to insufficient training. For example, the CSA of their quadriceps femoris muscle group, as assessed by MRI, increased by 7 (1)% after this short-term training (P < 0.05). The results suggest that: (1) the splenius capitis, and semispinalis capitis and cervicis muscles are mainly responsible for head extension; (2) short-term resistance training does not provide a sufficient stimulus to evoke neck muscle hypertrophy unless specific neck exercises are performed; and (3) the postural role of head extensors provides modest loading in bipeds.

Adult↗

PubMed1997

Efficacy of naproxen sodium for exercise-induced dysfunction muscle injury and soreness.

OBJECTIVE: To examine the efficacy of naproxen sodium for exercise-induced dysfunction, muscle injury, and soreness. DESIGN: Double-blind crossover. SETTING: Community. PARTICIPANTS: Eight young adult, healthy males. INTERVENTIONS: Ten sets of seven to 10 eccentric actions with each quadriceps femoris with a load equal to 85% of the eccentric one repetition maximum (1RM) followed by 10 days of naproxen sodium or placebo. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Concentric 1RM; cross-sectional area (CSA) and spin-spin relaxation time (T2) of quadriceps femoris, and subjective rating of thigh soreness pre- and 1, 4, and 10 days postexercise; subjective rating of ability to sleep or perform morning activities daily during recovery. RESULTS: Concentric 1RM was reduced by (p = 0.0001) 41% day 1 of recovery; by day 4 of recovery, it had increased (p = 0.0145) to 24% below baseline in the drug trial, but did not change for the placebo trial. By day 10 of recovery, concentric 1RM was 16 and 26% below (p = 0.0001) baseline for the drug and placebo trials, respectively. Quadriceps femoris CSA and T2 were increased (p < or = 0.0250) after exercise, with the greatest (p = 0.0008) responses evident on day 4 of recovery. At this time, each variable showed greater increases (p < or = 0.0129) for the placebo than for the drug trial 8 vs. 5 and 26 vs. 15%, respectively). The CSA of the quadriceps femoris showing an elevated T2 was 27 and 37% greater (p < or = 0.0085) for the placebo than for the drug trial on days 1 and 4 of recovery, respectively. The percentage of quadriceps femoris CSA with an elevated T2 (40%) was 1/3 greater (p < or = 0.0138) for the placebo than for the drug trial on these days. Thigh soreness was lower (day 4, p = 0.0087) and the ability to sleep or perform morning activities was less (p < or = 0.0030) compromised (days 3 and 4) during recovery in the drug trial. CONCLUSIONS: The results suggest that naproxen sodium improved recovery after eccentrically biased exercise, probably by attenuating expression of the inflammatory response to muscle injury.

Adult↗

PubMed1997

Strength, skeletal muscle composition, and enzyme activity in multiple sclerosis.

This study examined functional, biochemical, and morphological characteristics of skeletal muscle in nine multiple sclerosis (MS) patients and eight healthy controls in an effort to ascertain whether intramuscular adaptations could account for excessive fatigue in this disease. Analyses of biopsies of the tibialis anterior muscle showed that there were fewer type I fibers (66 +/- 6 vs. 76 +/- 6%), and that fibers of all types were smaller (average downward arrow26%) and had lower succinic dehydrogenase (SDH; average downward arrow40%) and SDH/alpha-glycerol-phosphate dehydrogenase (GPDH) but not GPDH activities in MS vs. control subjects, suggesting that muscle in this disease is smaller and relies more on anaerobic than aerobic-oxidative energy supply than does muscle of healthy individuals. Maximal voluntary isometric force for dorsiflexion was associated with both average fiber cross-sectional area (r = 0.71, P = 0.005) and muscle fat-free cross-sectional area by magnetic resonance imaging (r = 0.80, P < 0. 001). Physical activity, assessed by accelerometer, was associated with average fiber SDH/GPDH (r = 0.78, P = 0.008). There was a tendency for symptomatic fatigue to be inversely associated with average fiber SDH activity (r = -0.57, P = 0.068). The results of this study suggest that the inherent characteristics of skeletal muscle fibers per se and of skeletal muscle as a whole are altered in the direction of disuse in MS. They also suggest that changes in skeletal muscle in MS may significantly affect function.

Adult↗

PubMed1997

Resistance training and human cervical muscle recruitment plasticity.

This study examined cervical neuromuscular adaptations to resistance training. The ResX group performed conventional resistance training plus head-extension exercise. Another group performed only conventional resistance training, and the control group performed no resistance exercise. Muscle use during head extension was determined by quantifying shifts in T2 in serial-transaxial magnetic resonance images of the neck. ResX was the only group that showed a training effect. Training decreased (P < 0.05) the cross-sectional area (CSA) of cervical muscle used to perform submaximal head extension by 31%. This reflected a decrease (P < 0.05) in relative use of the splenius capitis, semispinalis capitis, and semispinalis cervicis and multifidus muscles by about one-third; their percentage of CSA showing contrast shift was reduced from 60 to 40% on average. This same exercise evoked no contrast shift in the levator scapulae, longissimus capitis and cervicis, and scalenus medius and anterior muscles posttraining, yet 20% or more of their CSA was engaged pretraining. The relative CSA of cervical musculature that was used to perform maximal head extension was increased (P < 0.05) 16% by training. The findings suggest functional redundancy of neck musculature that can be modified by training; submaximal tasks can be performed despite cessation of recruitment of individual muscles, yet recruitment can be increased for maximal efforts. These results also suggest that neuromuscular adaptations to training require a specific cervical exercise.

Adaptation, Physiological↗

PubMed1996

Relation of systemic and local muscle exercise capacity to skeletal muscle characteristics in men with congestive heart failure.

OBJECTIVES: The present study was undertaken to further characterize changes in skeletal muscle morphology and histochemistry in congestive heart failure and to determine the relation of these changes to abnormalities of systemic and local muscle exercise capacity. BACKGROUND: Abnormalities of skeletal muscle appear to play a role in the limitation of exercise capacity in congestive heart failure, but information on the changes in muscle morphology and biochemistry and their relation to alterations in muscle function is limited. METHODS: Eighteen men with predominantly mild to moderate congestive heart failure (mean +/- SEM New York Heart Association functional class 2.6 +/- 0.2, ejection fraction 24 +/- 2%) and eight age- and gender-matched sedentary control subjects underwent measurements of peak systemic oxygen consumption (VO2) during cycle ergometry, resistance to fatigue of the quadriceps femoris muscle group and biopsy of the vastus lateralis muscle. RESULTS: Peak VO2 and resistance to fatigue were lower in the patients with heart failure than in control subjects (15.7 +/- 1.2 vs. 25.1 +/- 1.5 ml/min-kg and 63 +/- 2% vs. 85 +/- 3%, respectively, both p < 0.001). Patients had a lower proportion of slow twitch, type I fibers than did control subjects (36 +/- 3% vs. 46 +/- 5%, p = 0.048) and a higher proportion of fast twitch, type IIab fibers (18 +/- 3% vs. 7 +/- 2%, p = 0.004). Fiber cross-sectional area was smaller, and single-fiber succinate dehydrogenase activity, a mitochondrial oxidative marker, was lower in patients (both p < or = 0.034). Likewise, the ratio of average fast twitch to slow twitch fiber cross-sectional area was lower in patients (0.780 +/- 0.06 vs. 1.05 +/- 0.08, p = 0.019). Peak VO2 was strongly related to integrated succinate dehydrogenase activity in patients (r = 0.896, p = 0.001). Peak VO2, resistance to fatigue and strength also correlated significantly with several measures of fiber size, especially of fast twitch fibers, in patients. None of the skeletal muscle characteristics examined correlated with exercise capacity in control subjects. CONCLUSIONS: These results indicate that congestive heart failure is associated with changes in the characteristics of skeletal muscle and local as well as systemic exercise performance. There are fewer slow twitch fibers, smaller fast twitch fibers and lower succinate dehydrogenase activity. The latter finding suggests that mitochondrial content of muscle is reduced in heart failure and that impaired aerobic-oxidative capacity may play a role in the limitation of systemic exercise capacity.

Aged↗

PubMed1996

Vulnerability to dysfunction and muscle injury after unloading.

OBJECTIVE: To test whether unloading increases vulnerability to eccentric exercise-induced dysfunction and muscle injury. DESIGN: Before-after trial. SETTING: General community. PATIENTS OR OTHER PARTICIPANTS: Two women and 5 men (73 +/- 3kg [mean +/- SE]) who were active college students but were not trained in lower body resistance exercise volunteered. INTERVENTION: Five weeks of unilateral lower limb suspension (ULLS), which has been shown to decrease strength and size of the unloaded, left, but not load-bearing, right quadriceps femoris muscle group (QF) by 20% and 14%, respectively; performance of 10 sets of ten eccentric actions with each QF immediately after the ULLS strength tests with a load equivalent to 65% of the post-ULLS eccentric 1-repetition maximum. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURE(S): Concentric and eccentric 1-repetition maximum for the left, unloaded and the right, load-bearing QF measured immediately after ULLS and 1,4,7,9, and 11 days later; cross-sectional area and spin-spin relaxation time (T2) of each QF as determined by magnetic resonance imaging and measured the last day of ULLS and 3 days later. RESULTS: The mean load used for eccentric exercise was 23 +/- 2 and 30 +/- 3kg for the left, unloaded and right, load-bearing QF, respectively. The concentric and eccentric 1-repetition maximum for the unloaded and already weakened left QF was further decreased by 18% (p = .000) and 27% (p = .000), respectively, 1 day after eccentric exercise. Strength did not return to post-ULLS levels until 7 days of recovery. The right, load-bearing QF showed a 4% decrease (p = .002) in the eccentric 1-repetition maximum 1 day after eccentric exercise. The left, unloaded QF showed an increase in T2 (p = .002) in 18% of its cross-sectional area 3 days after the eccentric exercise, thus indicating muscle injury. The right, load-bearing QF showed no elevation in T2 (p = .280). CONCLUSION: Unloading increases vulnerability to eccentric exercise-induced dysfunction and muscle injury, even at relatively light loads.

Adult↗

PubMed1996

Effect of acute head-down tilt on skeletal muscle cross-sectional area and proton transverse relaxation time.

This study investigated changes in skeletal muscle cross-sectional area (CSA) evoked by fluid shifts that accompany short-term 6 degrees head-down tilt (HDT) or horizontal bed rest, the time course of the resolution of these changes after resumption of upright posture, and the effect of altered muscle CSA, in the absence of increased contractile activity, on proton transverse relaxation time (T2). Average muscle (CSA and T2 were determined by standard spin-echo magnetic resonance imaging. Analyses were performed on contiguous transaxial images of the neck and calf. After a day of normal activity, 24 h of HDT increased neck muscle CSA 19 +/- 4(SE)% (P < 0.05) while calf muscle CSA decreased 14 +/- 3% (P < 0.05). The horizontal posture (12 h) induced about one-half of these responses: an 11 +/- 2% (P < 0.05) in the neck muscle CSA and an 8 +/- 2% decrease (P < 0.05) in the calf. Within 2 h after resumption of upright posture, neck and calf muscle CSA returned to within 0.5% (P > 0.05) of the values assessed after a day of normal activity, with most of the change occurring within the first 30 min. No further change in muscle CSA was observed through 6 h of upright posture. Despite these large alterations in muscle CSA, T2 was not altered by more than 1.1 +/- 0.6% (P > 0.05) and did not relate to muscle size. These results suggest that postural manipulations and subsequent fluid shifts modeling micro-gravity elicit marked changes in muscle size. Because these responses were not associated with alterations in muscle T2, it does not appear that simple movement of water into muscle can explain the contrast shift observed after exercise.

Adult↗

PubMed1996

Heart failure in rats causes changes in skeletal muscle morphology and gene expression that are not explained by reduced activity.

In patients with congestive heart failure, skeletal muscle is characterized by a smaller proportion of slow-twitch oxidative fibers and reduced oxidative enzyme activity. However, whether these changes result from disuse or occur as a direct consequence of heart failure is unresolved. To address this issue, 18 rats with heart failure 8 weeks after left coronary artery ligation and 13 sham-operated control rats underwent quantification of locomotor activity by a photocell activation technique, measurements of hemodynamics and infarct size, histochemical and morphological analyses of the soleus and plantaris muscles, and Northern analyses of muscle contractile protein and oxidative enzyme mRNA expression. Although the rats with heart failure had elevated left ventricular end-diastolic pressures (24.1 +/- 2.6 mm Hg) and a mean infarct size of 35.1 +/- 4.1%, activity levels were similar to those found in the sham-operated rats (3849 +/- 304 versus 3526 +/- 130 counts per hour). With heart failure, there was a significant reduction of type I fibers in the soleus muscle and type IIa fibers in the plantaris muscle, with corresponding increases in intermediate staining of type IIab fibers in both muscles. This was associated with a 17% decrease in citrate synthase activity in both the soleus and plantaris muscles (26.2 +/- 1.6 versus 30.7 +/- 3.4 and 29.1 +/- 2.4 versus 35.7 +/- 3.4 mumol/L per minute per gram, respectively [P < .05]). In the soleus muscle, mRNA for both beta-myosin heavy chains and cytochrome C oxidase III (normalized to 18S RNA) was reduced (0.27 +/- 0.02 versus 0.65 +/- 0.02 and 0.23 +/- 0.04 versus 0.64 +/- 0.02 U), whereas the messages for IIx and IIb myosin heavy chains were increased. A similar decrease in messages for cytochrome oxidase and the primary myosin isoform was observed in the plantaris muscle. Both soleus beta-myosin heavy chain and cytochrome C oxidase expression show significant inverse relationships to left ventricular end-diastolic pressure and infarct size. In contrast, there was no relationship between either beta-myosin heavy chain or cytochrome C oxidase expression and locomotor activity. These results indicate that in rats heart failure produces changes in skeletal muscle gene expression at the pretranslational level that cannot be explained by inactivity.

Animals↗

PubMed1995

Noninvasive analysis of human neck muscle function.

STUDY DESIGN: Muscle use evoked by exercise was determined by quantifying shifts in signal relaxation times of T2-weighted magnetic resonance images. Images were collected at rest and after exercise at each of two intensities (moderate and intense) for each of four head movements: 1) extension, 2) flexion, 3) rotation, and 4) lateral flexion. OBJECTIVE: This study examined the intensity and pattern of neck muscle use evoked by various movements of the head. The results will help elucidate the pathophysiology, and thus methods for treating disorders of the cervical musculoskeletal system. SUMMARY OF BACKGROUND DATA: Exercise-induced contrast shifts in T2 has been shown to indicate muscle use during the activity. The noninvasive nature of magnetic resonance imaging appears to make it an ideal approach for studying the function of the complex neuromuscular system of the neck. METHODS: The extent of T2 increase was examined to gauge how intensely nine different neck muscles or muscle pairs were used in seven subjects. The absolute and relative cross-sectional area of muscle showing a shift in signal relaxation was assessed to infer the pattern of use among and within individual neck muscles or muscle pairs. RESULTS: Signal relaxation increased with exercise intensity for each head movement. The absolute and relative cross-sectional area of muscle showing a shift in signal relaxation also increased with exercise load. Neck muscles or muscle pairs extensively used to perform each head movement were: extension--semispinalis capitis and cervicis and splenius capitis; flexion--sternocleidomastoid and longus capitis and colli; rotation--splenius capitis, levator scapulae, scalenus, semispinalis capitis ipsilateral to the rotation, and sternocleidomastoid contralateral; and lateral flexion--sternocleidomastoid CONCLUSION: The results of this study, in part, agree with the purported functions of neck muscles derived from anatomic location. This also was true for the few selected muscles that have been examined in human electromyographic studies. Neck muscle function and morphology can be studied at a detailed level using exercise-induced shifts in magnetic resonance images.

Adult↗

PubMed1995

Energy-rich phosphates in slow and fast human skeletal muscle.

We investigated the relationship between energy-rich phosphate content and muscle fiber-type composition in human skeletal muscle using a combination of 31P-nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy (NMR), histochemical, and biochemical analyses of muscle biopsies. Localized 31P spectra were collected simultaneously from the predominantly slow-twitch soleus muscle and the mixed (fast-twitch and slow-twitch) medial and lateral gastrocnemius muscles, using B1-insensitive Hadamard Spectroscopic Imaging. Biopsy samples were taken from the soleus and lateral gastrocnemius muscles before NMR investigation and analyzed for fiber type composition and succinic dehydrogenase (SDH) activity. Fiber-type composition was determined based both on myofibrillar actomyosin ATPase activity combined with cross-sectional area and on myosin heavy-chain composition. Localized spectroscopy demonstrated a significantly (P < 0.001) higher P(i)/phosphocreatine ratio in the soleus muscle (0.15 +/- 0.01) compared with the medial (0.12 +/- 0.01) and lateral (0.10 +/- 0.0) gastrocnemius. However, in vitro analysis of muscle biopsies showed only a moderate relationship between the basal phosphate content and myofibrillar actomyosin ATPase-based fiber-type composition and SDH activity, respectively.

Adolescent↗