Related Experiment Video
Updated: Jan 31, 2026
07:30
Muscle Imbalances: Testing and Training Functional Eccentric Hamstring Strength in Athletic Populations
Published on: May 1, 2018
15.9K
Redox correlation in muscle lengthening and immune response in eccentric exercise
Feng He1,2, Chia-Chen Chuang3,4, Tingyang Zhou3,4
1Department of Health and Kinesiology, College of Health and Human Sciences, Purdue University, West Lafayette, IN, United States of America.
Plos One
|December 28, 2018
Summary
Eccentric exercise induces reactive oxygen species (ROS), impairing muscle function. Antioxidant supplements, like vitamins C and E, may protect against exercise-induced cell damage and support recovery.
Area of Science:
- Exercise Physiology
- Cellular Biology
- Biochemistry
Background:
- Eccentric exercise, characterized by muscle lengthening under tension, can lead to skeletal muscle dysfunction.
- Reactive oxygen species (ROS) are implicated in cellular damage following strenuous physical activity.
- Leukocyte apoptosis, or programmed cell death in white blood cells, is a potential indicator of exercise-induced stress.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the role of ROS in skeletal muscle dysfunction caused by stretching using a mouse model.
- To evaluate the impact of combined antioxidant supplementation on leukocyte apoptosis after downhill running in humans.
- To explore the protective effects of antioxidants against exercise-induced cellular changes.
Main Methods:
- In mice: diaphragmatic muscle stretching (30% optimal length) followed by contraction, measuring muscle function and extracellular ROS.
- In humans: downhill running trials with and without antioxidant (vitamins C and E) supplementation, followed by apoptotic assays of blood inflammatory cells.
- Assessed changes in anti-apoptotic protein (Bcl-2) levels.
Main Results:
- Muscle stretching in mice decreased muscle function and increased ROS production.
- Human subjects showed increased leukocyte apoptosis 24-48 hours post-downhill running.
- Antioxidant supplementation attenuated the decrease in Bcl-2 levels following acute exercise.
Conclusions:
- Muscle lengthening during eccentric exercise generates significant ROS, contributing to compromised muscle function.
- Combined vitamin C and E supplementation demonstrated a protective effect by mitigating decreases in anti-apoptotic proteins.
- Antioxidants may play a beneficial role in managing exercise-induced cellular stress and promoting recovery.
Related Concept Videos
01:36Humoral Immune Responses
83.9K
Overview
83.9K
01:27Exercise and Muscle Performance
2.4K
Exercise induces a range of adaptations in muscle tissue, depending on the type and duration of activity. Such physical training can be broadly categorized into two types: endurance exercises and resistance exercises.
Endurance exercises
Endurance exercises involve running, swimming, or cycling, which require repetitive movements with low force output. When a person engages in endurance exercise, a few noticeable changes occur in their skeletal muscles. For instance, the number of capillaries...
Endurance exercises
Endurance exercises involve running, swimming, or cycling, which require repetitive movements with low force output. When a person engages in endurance exercise, a few noticeable changes occur in their skeletal muscles. For instance, the number of capillaries...
2.4K
01:20Exercise and Cardiovascular Response
4.5K
Exercise significantly impacts cardiovascular response, which is crucial for understanding patient health and designing effective treatment plans.
Light to moderate physical activity initiates a series of interconnected responses in the body. The heart rate modestly increases in anticipation of the workout, followed by widespread vasodilation as oxygen consumption by skeletal muscles increases. This results in decreased peripheral resistance, increased capillary blood flow, and accelerated...
Light to moderate physical activity initiates a series of interconnected responses in the body. The heart rate modestly increases in anticipation of the workout, followed by widespread vasodilation as oxygen consumption by skeletal muscles increases. This results in decreased peripheral resistance, increased capillary blood flow, and accelerated...
4.5K
02:58Balancing Redox Equations
62.1K
Electrochemistry is the science involved in the interconversion of electrical and chemical reactions. Such reactions are called reduction-oxidation, or redox reactions. These important reactions are defined by changes in oxidation states for one or more reactant elements and include a subset of reactions involving the transfer of electrons between reactant species. Electrochemistry as a field has evolved to yield sufficient insights on the fundamental principles of redox chemistry and multiple...
62.1K
01:24Redox Reactions
58.7K
Oxidation-reduction or redox reactions involve the transfer of electrons from one molecule or atom to another. When an atom gains an electron, another atom must lose an electron, meaning oxidation and reduction must occur together. Since the redox occurs in pairs, the atom that gets oxidized is also called the reducing agent or reductant, and the atom that is reduced is also called the oxidizing agent or oxidant. A straightforward way to remember the definitions of oxidation and reduction is...
58.7K
01:40Cell-mediated Immune Responses
84.0K
Overview
84.0K