Related Experiment Video
Updated: Mar 5, 2026
A Murine Model of Muscle Training by Neuromuscular Electrical Stimulation
Published on: May 9, 2012
The effects of electromyostimulation application timing on denervated skeletal muscle atrophy
Eun Sil Koh1,2, Hee Chan Kim2, Jae-Young Lim3
1Department of Rehabilitation Medicine, National Medical Center, Seoul, Republic of Korea.
Introduction:
In this study we evaluated the effect of electromyostimulation (EMS) on myosin heavy chain (MHC) isoform expression in denervated rat muscles to determine the optimal timing for EMS application.
Methods:
EMS was initiated on post-injury day 1 for the group with denervation receiving immediate EMS (DIEMS) and on post-injury day 15 for the group with denervation receiving delayed EMS (DDEMS) in rat denervated muscles. Muscle wet weight and muscle fiber cross-sectional area (FCSA) were measured. MHC isoforms were analyzed in both protein homogenates and single muscle fibers.
Results:
The expression levels of IIx and IIb isoforms of MHC were significantly lower and higher, respectively, in the gastrocnemius muscles of the DIEMS group, but not the DDEMS group. The DIEMS group also showed larger FCSA and a lower proportion of hybrid single fibers compared with the DDEMS group.
Discussion:
These results indicate that immediate EMS is more effective than delayed EMS for aiding recovery of denervation-induced MHC changes. Muscle Nerve 56: E154-E161, 2017.
Related Concept Videos
01:22Muscle Stimulation Frequency
Wave summation
At low firing rates, motor neurons induce individual twitch contractions in muscle fibers. These twitches...
01:20Motor Unit Stimulation
The latent period of contraction marks the onset of excitation-contraction coupling, when the action potential propagates across the sarcolemma, preparing the muscle fibers for contraction. As the fibers enter the contraction phase, the...