Muscle disuse leads to a considerable loss in skeletal muscle mass and strength. However, the cellular mechanisms underlying disuse-induced muscle fibre atrophy remain to be elucidated. Therefore we assessed the effect of muscle disuse on the CSA (cross-sectional area), muscle fibre size, satellite cell content and associated myocellular signalling pathways of the quadriceps muscle. A total of 12 healthy young (24±1 years of age) men were subjected to 2 weeks of one-legged knee immobilization via a full-leg cast. Before and immediately after the immobilization period and after 6 weeks of natural rehabilitation, muscle strength [1RM (one-repetition maximum)], muscle CSA [single slice CT (computed tomography) scan] and muscle fibre type characteristics (muscle biopsies) were assessed. Protein and/or mRNA expression of key genes [i.e. MYOD (myogenic differentiation), MYOG (myogenin) and MSTN (myostatin)] in the satellite cell regulatory pathways were determined using Western blotting and RT-PCR (real-time PCR) analyses respectively. The present study found that quadriceps CSA declined following immobilization by 8±2% (P<0.05). In agreement, both type I and type II muscle fibre size decreased 7±3% and 13±4% respectively (P<0.05). No changes were observed in satellite cell content following immobilization in either type I or type II muscle fibres. Muscle MYOG mRNA expression doubled (P<0.05), whereas MSTN protein expression decreased 30±9% (P<0.05) following immobilization. Muscle mass and strength returned to the baseline values within 6 weeks of recovery without any specific rehabilitative programme. In conclusion, 2 weeks of muscle disuse leads to considerable loss in skeletal muscle mass and strength. The loss in muscle mass was attributed to both type I and type II muscle fibre atrophy, and was not accompanied by a decline in satellite cell content.
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December 20 2013
Muscle disuse atrophy is not accompanied by changes in skeletal muscle satellite cell content
Tim Snijders;
Tim Snijders
*Department of Human Movement Sciences, School for Nutrition, Toxicology and Metabolism (NUTRIM), Maastricht University, Maastricht, The Netherlands
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Benjamin T. Wall;
Benjamin T. Wall
*Department of Human Movement Sciences, School for Nutrition, Toxicology and Metabolism (NUTRIM), Maastricht University, Maastricht, The Netherlands
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Marlou L. Dirks;
Marlou L. Dirks
*Department of Human Movement Sciences, School for Nutrition, Toxicology and Metabolism (NUTRIM), Maastricht University, Maastricht, The Netherlands
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Joan M. G. Senden;
Joan M. G. Senden
*Department of Human Movement Sciences, School for Nutrition, Toxicology and Metabolism (NUTRIM), Maastricht University, Maastricht, The Netherlands
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Fred Hartgens;
Fred Hartgens
†Departments of Epidemiology and Surgery, School for Public Health and Primary Care (CAPHRI), Maastricht University Medical Centre+, Maastricht, The Netherlands
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John Dolmans;
John Dolmans
‡Department of Surgery, Maastricht University Medical Centre+, Maastricht, The Netherlands
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Mario Losen;
Mario Losen
§Department of Neuroscience, School of Mental Health and Neuroscience, Maastricht University, Maastricht, The Netherlands
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Lex B. Verdijk;
Lex B. Verdijk
*Department of Human Movement Sciences, School for Nutrition, Toxicology and Metabolism (NUTRIM), Maastricht University, Maastricht, The Netherlands
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Luc J. C. van Loon
*Department of Human Movement Sciences, School for Nutrition, Toxicology and Metabolism (NUTRIM), Maastricht University, Maastricht, The Netherlands
Correspondence: Professor Luc J.C. van Loon (email [email protected]).
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Publisher: Portland Press Ltd
Received:
June 20 2013
Revision Received:
November 07 2013
Accepted:
November 12 2013
Accepted Manuscript online:
November 12 2013
Online ISSN: 1470-8736
Print ISSN: 0143-5221
© The Authors Journal compilation © 2014 Biochemical Society
2014
Clin Sci (Lond) (2014) 126 (8): 557–566.
Article history
Received:
June 20 2013
Revision Received:
November 07 2013
Accepted:
November 12 2013
Accepted Manuscript online:
November 12 2013
Citation
Tim Snijders, Benjamin T. Wall, Marlou L. Dirks, Joan M. G. Senden, Fred Hartgens, John Dolmans, Mario Losen, Lex B. Verdijk, Luc J. C. van Loon; Muscle disuse atrophy is not accompanied by changes in skeletal muscle satellite cell content. Clin Sci (Lond) 1 April 2014; 126 (8): 557–566. doi: https://doi.org/10.1042/CS20130295
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