[Purpose] The purpose of this study was to elucidate the cathepsin-D involvement in signaling pathways for the survival and apoptosis of myofibers in rats with hindlimb-unloading in a low-temperature environment. [Subjects and Methods] Wistar rats were divided into two groups: a control group and a group that underwent hindlimb unloading in a low-temperature environment to induce muscle apoptos...

The identities of proteins that show disuse-related changes in the content of oxidative modification are unknown. Furthermore, it is unknown whether the global accumulation of oxidized proteins is greater in aged animals with muscle disuse. The purposes of this study are 1) to identify the exact proteins that show disuse-related changes in oxidation levels and 2) to test the hypothesis that the...

AMPK is considered to have a role in regulating skeletal muscle mass. However, there are no studies investigating the function of AMPK in modulating skeletal muscle mass during atrophic conditions. In the present study, we investigated the difference in unloading-associated muscle atrophy and molecular functions in response to 2-wk hindlimb suspension between transgenic mice overexpressing the ...

Muscle forces are necessary for the development and maintenance of a mineralized skeleton. Removal of loads leads to malformed bones and impaired musculoskeletal function due to changes in bone (re)modeling. In the current study, the development of a mineralized junction at the interface between muscle and bone was examined under normal and impaired loading conditions. Unilateral mouse rotator ...

It remains unclear whether the phloem unloading pathway alters to adapt to developmental transition in fleshy fruits that accumulate high level of soluble sugars. Using a combination of electron microscopy, transport of the phloem-mobile symplasmic tracer carboxyfluorescein, movement of the companion cell-expressed and the green fluorescent protein-tagged viral movement protein, and assays of t...

OBJECTIVE Implantation of a left ventricular assist device (LVAD) in the failing human heart initiates structural and functional changes termed reverse remodeling. Mechanical unloading improves cardiac adrenergic responsiveness and lipid metabolism, processes regulated by caveolar function. We tested the hypothesis that mechanical unloading alters the expression of caveolins and these changes a...

BACKGROUND Right ventricular (RV) mechanical support is well described in cases of sudden increase in RV afterload. In cases of chronic RV pressure overload (e.g., pulmonary arterial hypertension), it has rarely been described. METHODS The pulmonary artery was banded in 18 sheep. In the acute group (n = 9), we immediately implanted a Synergy Pocket Micro-Pump. Blood was withdrawn from the rig...