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Updated: Mar 8, 2026
Author Spotlight: Regenerative Roles of Muscle Proteins at Neuromuscular Junction Post-Nerve Injury
Published on: November 1, 2024
Electrical stimulation delays reinnervation in denervated rat muscle
Clara M Pinheiro-Dardis1, Bruna T Erbereli1, Davilene Gigo-Benato1
1Fisioterapia Neurológica (LaFiN), Departamento de Fisioterapia, Universidade Federal de São Carlos (UFSCar), Rodovia Washington Luis, Km 235, C.P. 676 - CEP: 13565-905, São Carlos, SP, Brazil.
Introduction:
It is not clear if electrical stimulation (ES) can affect muscle reinnervation. This study aimed to verify if ES affects neuromuscular recovery after nerve crush injury in rats.
Methods:
Denervated muscles were electrically stimulated daily for 6 or 14 days. Neuromuscular performance and excitability, and muscle morphology were determined. Muscle trophism markers (atrogin-1, MuRF-1, and myoD), as well as neuromuscular junction (NMJ) organization (muscle-specific receptor tyrosine kinase [MuSK], cytoplasmic protein downstream of kinase-7 [Dok-7], nicotinic ACh receptor [nAChR], and neural cell adhesion molecule [N-CAM]) were assessed.
Results:
ES impaired neuromuscular recovery at day 14 postdenervation. Muscle hypoexcitability was accentuated by ES at 6 and 14 days postdenervation. Although ES reduced the accumulation of atrogin-1, MuRF1, and myoD mRNAs, it increased muscle atrophy. Gene expression of MuSK, Dok-7, nAChR, and the content of N-CAM protein were altered by ES.
Discussion:
ES can delay the reinnervation process by modulating factors related to NMJ stability and organization, and inducing dysfunction, hypoexcitability, and muscle atrophy. Muscle Nerve 56: E108-E118, 2017.
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