We investigated the cellular mechanisms and therapeutic effect of post-injury stretch on the recovery process from muscle injury induced by lengthening contractions (LC). One day after LC, a single 15-min bout of muscle stretch was applied at an intensity of 3 mNm. The maximal isometric torque was measured before and at 2–21 days after LC. The myofiber size was analyzed at 21 days after LC. Developmental myosin heavy chain-immunoreactive (dMHC-ir) cells, a marker of regenerating myofibers, were observed in the early recovery stage (2–5 days after LC). We observed that LC-induced injury markedly decreased isometric torque and myofiber size, which recovered faster in rats that underwent stretch than in rats that did not. Regenerating myofiber with dMHC-ir cells was observed earlier in rats that underwent stretch. These results indicate that post-injury stretch may facilitate the regeneration and early formation of new myofibers, thereby promoting structural and functional recovery from LC-induced muscle injury.
CITATION STYLE
Mori, T., Agata, N., Itoh, Y., Inoue-Miyazu, M., Mizumura, K., Sokabe, M., … Kawakami, K. (2018). Post-injury stretch promotes recovery in a rat model of muscle damage induced by lengthening contractions. Journal of Physiological Sciences, 68(4), 483–492. https://doi.org/10.1007/s12576-017-0553-9
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