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[Daily 4-h standing can prevent soleus atrophy induced by 4 weeks tail suspension in rats]
Objective:
To observe the effects of intermittent standing in counteracting the soleus atrophy induced by simulated microgravity.
Method:
Eighteen male Sprague-Dawley rats were randomly assigned to 3 groups: control (CON), four-week tail-suspension (TS), and TS plus daily 4 h standing (TS + STD4). After 4 weeks, bilateral adrenal glands and soleus muscle were dissected and weighed. The left soleus was sectioned with cryostat and stained with ATPase staining. The cross sectional area (CSA) of type I and II fibers and the relative proportion of type I fibers were measured using Leica image analysis system. The right soleus was homogenized and stained with Coomassie Brilliant Blue following electrophoresis on 8% SDS-PAGE under 70 V and < 4 degrees C for 28 h. The Scion image software was used to evaluate the result of the densitometry of different types of MHC.
Result:
In TS, wet weights of the soleus, CSA of type I and II fibers, and proportion of type I fibers decreased obviously, as compared with those rats in CON (P<0.01 or P<0.05). The SDS-PAGE showed similar results as by ATPase staining in the proportion of MHC I. Whereas in TS + STD4, there were no significant differences of those parameters compared with those rats in CON.
Conclusion:
Daily 4-h standing fully prevented the soleus atrophy induced by simulated microgravity for 4 wk in rats.
