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Updated: Jun 13, 2026
Induction of Myocardial Infarction and Myocardial Ischemia-Reperfusion Injury in Mice
Published on: January 19, 2022
Impaired skeletal muscle repair after ischemia-reperfusion injury in mice
Abstract:
Ischemia/reperfusion (IR) injury can induce skeletal muscle fibre death and subsequent regeneration. By 14 days, absolute and specific maximal forces and fatigue resistance in ischemic/reperfused soleus muscles were still reduced (-89%, -81%, and -75%, resp.) as compared to control muscles (P < .05). The decrease of these parameters in ischemic/reperfused muscle was much greater than that of myotoxic injured muscles (-12%, -11%, and -19%; P < .05). In addition, at 14 days ischemic/reperfused muscle structure was still abnormal, showing small muscle fibres expressing neonatal myosin heavy chain and large necrotic muscle fibres that were not observed in myotoxin treated muscles. By 56 days, in contrast to myotoxin treated muscles, specific maximal force and muscle weight of the ischemic/reperfused muscles did not fully recover (P < .05). This differential recovery between ischemic/reperfused and myotoxin treated muscles was not related to the differences in the initial cell death, loss of satellite cells after injury, expression of growth factors (IGF1, IGF2..), or capillary density in regenerating muscles. In conclusion, our results demonstrate that IR injury in mice induces long term detrimental effects in skeletal muscles and that the recovery following IR injury was delayed for yet unknown reasons as compared to myotoxic injury.
Insights
Ischemia/reperfusion (IR) injury causes significant long-term muscle damage and delayed recovery in mice compared to myotoxic injury. Muscle function and structure remain impaired even after 56 days.
Area of Science:
- Muscle physiology
- Regenerative medicine
- Injury models
Background:
- Ischemia/reperfusion (IR) injury leads to skeletal muscle fiber death and regeneration.
- Understanding the long-term consequences of IR injury on muscle recovery is crucial.
Purpose of the Study:
- To compare the long-term effects of IR injury versus myotoxic injury on skeletal muscle recovery in mice.
- To investigate potential reasons for delayed recovery after IR injury.
Main Methods:
- Induction of IR injury and myotoxic injury in mouse skeletal muscles.
- Assessment of muscle force, fatigue resistance, and structural integrity at 14 and 56 days post-injury.
- Analysis of cell death, satellite cells, growth factors, and capillary density.
Main Results:
- IR injury caused greater and more persistent reductions in muscle force and fatigue resistance compared to myotoxic injury.
- Skeletal muscle structure remained abnormal 14 days post-IR, with necrotic fibers and neonatal myosin expression.
- Full recovery of specific maximal force and muscle weight was not observed by 56 days after IR injury, unlike in myotoxic injury.
Conclusions:
- IR injury induces long-term detrimental effects on skeletal muscle in mice.
- Recovery following IR injury is significantly delayed compared to myotoxic injury due to unknown factors.
- Further research is needed to elucidate the mechanisms behind delayed IR injury recovery.
