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Brock Symons T, Park J, Kim JH, Kwon EH, Delacruz J, Lee J, Park Y, Chung E, Lee S. Attenuation of skeletal muscle atrophy via acupuncture, electro-acupuncture, and electrical stimulation. Integr Med Res 2023; 12:100949. [PMID: 37214317 PMCID: PMC10192920 DOI: 10.1016/j.imr.2023.100949] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/03/2022] [Revised: 03/19/2023] [Accepted: 04/18/2023] [Indexed: 05/24/2023] Open
Abstract
Background Accelerated skeletal muscle wasting is a shared trait among many pathologies and aging. Acupuncture has been used as a therapeutic intervention to control pain; however, little is known about its effects on skeletal muscle atrophy and function. The study's purpose was to compare the effects of acupuncture, electro-acupuncture, and electrical stimulation on cast-induced skeletal muscle atrophy. Methods Forty female Sprague Dawley rats were randomly divided into groups: Control, casted (CAST), CAST+Acupuncture (CAST-A), 4) CAST+Electro-acupuncture (CAST-EA), and CAST+Electrical stimulation (CAST-ES) (n = 8). Plaster casting material was wrapped around the left hind limb. Acupuncture and electro-acupuncture (10 Hz, 6.4 mA) treatments were applied by needling acupoints (stomach-36 and gallbladder-34). Electrical stimulation (10 Hz, 6.4 mA) was conducted by needling the lateral and medial gastrocnemius muscles. Treatments were conducted for 15 min, three times/week for 14 days. Muscle atrophy F-box (MAFbx), muscle RING finger 1 (MuRF1), and contractile properties were assessed. Results Fourteen days of cast-immobilization decreased muscle fiber CSA by 56% in the CAST group (p = 0.00); whereas, all treatment groups demonstrated greater muscle fiber CSA than the CAST group (p = 0.00). Cast-immobilization increased MAFbx and MuRF1 protein expression in the CAST group (p<0.01) while the CAST-A, CAST-EA, and CAST-ES groups demonstrated lower levels of MAFbx and MuRF1 protein expression (p<0.02) compared to the CAST group. Following fourteen days of cast-immobilization, peak twitch tension did not differ between the CAST-A and CON groups (p = 0.12). Conclusion Skeletal muscle atrophy, induced by 14 days of cast-immobilization, was significantly attenuated by acupuncture, electro-acupuncture, or electrical stimulation.
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Affiliation(s)
- T. Brock Symons
- Department of Counselling, Health, and Kinesiology, Texas A&M University-San Antonio, San Antonio, TX, U.S.A
| | - Jinho Park
- Department of Counselling, Health, and Kinesiology, Texas A&M University-San Antonio, San Antonio, TX, U.S.A
| | - Joo Hyun Kim
- Department of Counselling, Health, and Kinesiology, Texas A&M University-San Antonio, San Antonio, TX, U.S.A
| | - Eun Hye Kwon
- Department of Counselling, Health, and Kinesiology, Texas A&M University-San Antonio, San Antonio, TX, U.S.A
| | - Jesse Delacruz
- Department of Counselling, Health, and Kinesiology, Texas A&M University-San Antonio, San Antonio, TX, U.S.A
| | - Junghoon Lee
- Department of Health and Human Performance, University of Houston, Houston, TX, U.S.A
| | - Yoonjung Park
- Department of Health and Human Performance, University of Houston, Houston, TX, U.S.A
| | - Eunhee Chung
- Department of Kinesiology, The University of Texas at San Antonio, San Antonio, TX, U.S.A
| | - Sukho Lee
- Department of Counselling, Health, and Kinesiology, Texas A&M University-San Antonio, San Antonio, TX, U.S.A
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