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Respiratory muscle fiber morphometry. Correlation with pulmonary function and nutrition
J M Hards1, W D Reid, R L Pardy
1Pulmonary Research Laboratory, St. Paul's Hospital, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada.
Chest
|May 1, 1990
Summary
Nutrition and sex significantly impact respiratory muscle fiber size and composition. Body weight correlates with fiber diameters, suggesting nutritional status is crucial for respiratory muscle structure.
Area of Science:
- Respiratory Physiology
- Muscle Biology
- Nutritional Science
Background:
- Pulmonary function and respiratory muscle strength are vital for overall health.
- Understanding respiratory muscle morphometry provides insights into muscle function.
- Factors influencing respiratory muscle structure require further investigation.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the relationship between nutrition, pulmonary function, respiratory muscle strength, and respiratory muscle morphometry.
- To compare physiologic data and muscle morphometry in internal intercostal, external intercostal, and latissimus dorsi muscles.
- To analyze the impact of sex and nutritional status on respiratory muscle fiber characteristics.
Main Methods:
- Biopsies of internal intercostal, external intercostal, and latissimus dorsi muscles were obtained from 68 thoracotomy patients.
- Muscle biopsies were stained for myosin ATPase to analyze type 1 and type 2 muscle fiber proportions and diameters.
- Physiologic data, including pulmonary function and respiratory muscle strength, were collected and compared.
Main Results:
- External intercostal muscles showed more qualitative changes, some linked to malignancy.
- Type 1 fibers were more abundant in intercostal muscles than in the latissimus dorsi.
- Type 2 fiber diameter was smaller in external intercostal muscles compared to latissimus dorsi and internal intercostal muscles.
- Fiber diameters were larger in men than in women.
- No significant relationship was found between pulmonary function/muscle strength and fiber proportions/diameters.
- Significant correlations existed between ideal body weight percentage and type 1/type 2 fiber diameters.
Conclusions:
- Sex and nutritional status significantly influence respiratory muscle morphometry.
- Body weight, as an indicator of nutritional status, correlates with respiratory muscle fiber size.
- Further research is needed to fully elucidate the complex interplay between nutrition, sex, and respiratory muscle health.