Pae EK, Hyatt JPK, Wu J, Chien P. Short-term electrical stimulation alters tongue muscle fibre type composition.
Arch Oral Biol 2007;
52:544-51. [PMID:
17239813 DOI:
10.1016/j.archoralbio.2006.12.002]
[Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/11/2006] [Revised: 12/01/2006] [Accepted: 12/05/2006] [Indexed: 10/23/2022]
Abstract
OBJECTIVE
To examine whether short-term exogenous activation of a tongue muscle induced a phenotypic shift from a fast to a slow fibre-type, and thus assess a potential therapeutic avenue to protect against obstructive sleep apnoea (OSA).
METHODS
New Zealand White rabbit genioglossus (GG) muscle, characteristically a fast muscle, was continuously stimulated at a frequency attributed to slow muscle (10Hz, 3V DC pulses) using an implanted micro-circuit for 7 days. Changes in muscle fibre types and aerobic capacity were assessed between stimulated and un-stimulated (control) groups using immunohistochemistry and electrophoresis for myosin heavy chain (MHC) and assayed for citrate synthase.
RESULTS
Compared to the un-stimulated control group, stimulated GG muscles had more (approximately 13%) type I MHC (slow-twitch) content; a proportional decrease in type II MHC (fast-twitch) isoform also occurred in the stimulated GG muscle (P<0.05). Electrophoresis analysis on whole muscle and single fibre MHC showed an increased type I expression in the stimulated GG muscle (P<0.01). A commensurate rise in citrate synthase activity, indicating a change in aerobic capacity, was also observed in the stimulated GG muscles.
CONCLUSION
Together, these results demonstrate a successful alteration in tongue muscle characteristics using exogenous electrical stimulation and perhaps a potential therapeutic application for OSA.
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