Longitudinal stress effects in proteins related to soleous muscle mechanotransduction of rats in post-natal development

Abstract

During the treatment of skeletal muscle injuries, the immobilization devices when maintained for prolonged period of time can determine significant changes in the muscular function that can become irreversible when not treated. As approach, intermittent stretching and eccentric training techniques are frequently used in the physiotherapy practice also for infant skeletal muscle diseases. This study aims to evaluate the morphologic and functional alterations of the gait in weanling rats that will have their right posterior members immobilized during 10 days and they will be submitted to eccentric training and intermittent stretching protocols during a period of 3, 7 and 10 days. The level of Creatine kinase (CK) will be verified through blood samples. The immobilized member will have the soleus muscle isolated for imunohistochemical reactions to proteins of costameres (±-actinin, desmin and distrophyn) and collagens type I and III. The functional analysis will be carried before and after immobilization, during the period of stretching, eccentric training and free movement in a cage. (AU)