Exercise effects on recovery of muscle acetylcholinesterase from reduced neuromuscular activity

In order to investigate the effects of reduced and subsequently increased neuromuscular activity on muscle acetylcholinesterase (AChE), rats had one hindlimb immobilized with plaster casts for 4 weeks and were killed either at the end of immobilization (group I), after 4 weeks of resumed normal activity following cast removal (group R), or after 4 weeks of resumed activity supplemented with a daily treadmill-walking task (group E). Immobilization resulted in a decrease in adductor longus muscle weight to 66.4% of control; total muscle end-plate-associated AChE was decreased to 51.4%. Total muscle ACh hydrolysis was not significantly affected. Mild daily exercise during recovery increased total muscle end-plate AChE to control levels after 4 weeks, while in group R the corresponding level was significantly lower (84.4%). Decreased neuromuscular activity has different effects on end-plate AChE and non-end-plate AChE. Mild endurance-type overload during recovery from immobilization can accelerate recovery of end-plate AChE activity to normal.