Does electrical stimulation of the sciatic nerve prevent suspension-induced changes in rat hindlimb bones?

Osteoporosis due to mineral loss is a major health problem resulting from long-term spaceflight. The development of a suitable countermeasure is essential because an advanced decrease in bone density could be irreversible. Therefore the current study was performed to test our hypothesis that the loading of bones by electrical stimulation-induced muscle contraction may prevent the mineral loss caused by gravitational unloading and bone growth will be maintained. During 10 d of hindlimb suspension, electrical stimulation at 1, 50, or 100 Hz was administered through the left sciatic nerve at the gluteal region of rats with approximately 300 g body weight. The dry weight, mineral content, and mineral density in hindlimb bones were analyzed. The dry weight and mineral content of femur and tibia-fibula in hindlimb-suspended rats tended to be less than in the age-matched cage controls. However, these detrimental effects were prevented by stimulation at 50 and 100 Hz. A positive effect of stimulation was seen even in the nonstimulated limb, although greater effect was induced in the stimulated limb. It is suggested that loading by stimulation-induced muscle contraction at higher frequencies is beneficial for the maintenance of bone growth or the prevention of mineral loss, or both, during hindlimb suspension in rats.