We determined the effect of stretching applied once a week to the soleus muscle immobilized in the shortened position on muscle fiber morphology. Twenty-six male Wistar rats weighing 269 +/- 26 g were divided into three groups. Group I, the left soleus was immobilized in the shortened position for 3 weeks; group II, the soleus was immobilized in the shortened position and stretched once a week ...

Enzymatic activity from the muscle-specific isoform of phosphoglycerate mutase (PGAM-M) is higher within glycolytic skeletal muscles than in oxidative muscles. The hypothesis that PGAM-M is regulated pretranslationally among muscles of the hindlimb was tested using enzymatic assays, Western blots, and Northern blots. We further investigated the regulatory level(s) at which PGAM-M gene expressio...

Locomotor adaptation in humans is not well understood. To provide insight into the neural reorganization that occurs following a significant disruption to one's learned neuromuscular map relating a given motor command to its resulting muscular action, we tied the mechanical action of a robotic exoskeleton to the electromyography (EMG) profile of the soleus muscle during walking. The powered exo...

Responses of electromyogram (EMG) in soleus muscle and both afferent and efferent neurograms at the fifth lumbar (L(5)) segmental level of spinal cord were investigated during acute and chronic unloading induced by hindlimb suspension and/or tenotomy in adult rats. The soleus EMG and afferent neurogram decreased 88 and 37%, respectively, relative to those at quadrupedal posture on the floor aft...

Chen, Shuen-Ei, Eric Gerken, Yingmin Zhang, Mei Zhan, Raja K. Mohan, Andrew S. Li, Michael B. Reid, and Yi-Ping Li. Role of TNFsignaling in regeneration of cardiotoxin-injured muscle. Am J Physiol Cell Physiol 289: C1179–C1187, 2005. First published August 3, 2005; doi:10.1152/ajpcell.00062.2005.—Recent data suggest a physiological role for the proinflammatory cytokine TNFin skeletal muscle reg...

To determine whether hindlimb unloading (HU) alters the extracellular matrix of skeletal muscle, male Sprague-Dawley rats were subjected to 0 (n = 11), 1 (n = 11), 14 (n = 13), or 28 (n = 11) days of unloading. Remodeling of the soleus and plantaris muscles was examined biochemically for collagen abundance via measurement of hydroxyproline, and the percentage of cross-sectional area of collagen...

INTRODUCTION Losses in muscle mass and strength may affect an astronaut's safety; therefore, it is of utmost importance to optimize countermeasures to minimize atrophy and strength loss during spaceflight. The main purpose of this study was to determine if high force eccentric or isometric contractions performed by the plantar flexor group during hind limb suspension would preserve muscle mass ...

The skeletal muscle is classified into 2 types, slow oxidative or fast glycolytic muscle. For further characterization, we investigated the capillary architecture in slow and fast muscles. The rat soleus and extensor digitorum longus (EDL) muscles were used as representatives of slow and fast muscles, respectively. To investigate capillary density, sections of both types of muscle were stained ...

BACKGROUND Local reconstructive options for middle third of leg make good use of Soleus muscle flap. Soleus being the prime ankle planter flexor and stabiliser of the ankle in ambulation cannot be sacrificed without significant morbidity. Soleus is a bipennate muscle with independent blood supply of each half. Using one half retains its important function, increases arc of rotation, and makes i...