Effect of electro-acupuncture on skeletal muscle atrophy in mice / 全日本鍼灸学会雑誌

ABSTRACT

[Objective]Skeletal Muscle atrophy is induced in response to unloading by Hindlimb Suspension (HS). Numerous studies have been performed to prevent Skeletal Muscle atrophy. However, the molecular mechanisms underlying Electro-acupuncture (EA) on skeletal muscle have not been identified, and the effect of EA to prevent skeletal muscle atrophy is unknown. Therefore, we aimed to determine the effect of EA and Chishin (where the needles are kept in muscle for thirty minutes) on skeletal muscle atrophy in an animal experiment.<BR>[Methods]Twenty mice (8 week, C57BL6) were randomly grouped into 4 groups;Normal group (N group), Hindlimb Suspension Group (HS group), HS +Chishin group (Chishin group), and HS +EA 1Hz group (1Hz group) (n = 5/group, respectively). Acupuncture interventions were conducted on the gastrocnemius of the Chishin and 1Hz groups. We measured the muscle mass, the cross sectional area, the percentage of Antrogin-1 and MuRF1 (Atrophy related E3ubiquitin ligases) expressions of the soleus 0f each mouse at 2 weeks after acupuncture interventions.<BR>[Result]The weight and Cross sectional area of the soleus of the 1Hz group were significantly greater than the HS group (P<0.01, P<0.01, respectively). On the contrary, the percentage of Atrogin-1 and MuRF1 expressions of the 1Hz group was significantly less than the HS groups (P<0.01, P<0.05, respectively).<BR>[Conclusion]These results suggest that EA and Chishin may influence the activity of Atrogin-1 &MuRF1 expression.