Effect of energy compound on skeletal muscle strain injury and regeneration in rats

Abstract

This study was designed to determine whether the supplement of energy compound could attenuate strain-induced damage to skeletal muscle in rats. Energy compound is a saline mixture of the following ingredients: ATP (10 mg), Coenzyme-A (50 units), Coenzyme-Q10 (50 mg), Cytochrome C (30 mg) and Vitamin B6 (50 mg). Experimental animals were injured in right gastrocnemius muscles by a strain injury model. Energy compound groups were given energy compound 10 ml/kg body weight per day since injured, while saline groups were given saline at the same dose. And a sham operation was performed on the right hindlimb of control group. Plasma was centrifuged to measure lactate dehydrogenase (LDH), lactic acid (La) and creatine kinase (CK) on 3, 7 and 14 d post injury. Muscles were removed and fixed for histology observation and immunohistochemistry assay of desmin and vimentin. The results showed a similar tendency of plasma CK, La and LDH in saline and energy compound groups, while the lower level was found in the energy-compound group. The histological examination of muscle sections revealed a lower degree of damage in the energy compound group in which the expression levels of desmin and vimentin were higher than in the saline group. It is suggested that energy compound supplement may attenuate strain-induced muscle damage and facilitate its regeneration.