Neurogenic muscle hypertrophy in radiculopathy

The course of radiculopathy is sometimes associated with weakness and wasting of muscles. Very rarely in such cases, however, is hypertrophy of muscle fibres observed. Three cases are presented of sciatica with enlarged calves caused by hypertrophy of type 1 or types 1 and 2 muscle fibres. In light of the literature and the results obtained, an attempt is made to explain the cause of rare clinical symptoms and draw attention to diagnostic and therapeutic difficulties.     

An electron microscopic study of local anesthetic-induced skeletal muscle fiber degeneration and regeneration in the monkey

An electron microscopic study was done on abductor pollicis brevis muscles of 18 Rhesus monkeys after intramuscular injections of 0.75% bupivacaine, 2% mepivacaine, or 2% lidocaine + epinephrine. The muscles were examined for from 2 h to 28 days. Severe muscle fiber damage, consisting of breakdown of sarcolemma and myofibrils, was seen as early as 2 h. Phagocyte mediated fragmentation of the degenerating muscle fibers was at its peak during the third and fourth days. Myoblasts were abundant during the fourth day. Early myotubes appeared on the fifth and sixth days, and they matured during the second week. Satellite cells appeared alongside mature myotubes. Overall, the local anesthetic-induced breakdown and regeneration of skeletal muscle fibers in the monkey followed a course quite similar to that seen in the rat.     

Adhesion in skeletal muscle during regeneration.

Adhesion molecules were studied in regenerating skeletal muscle immunohistochemically and ultrastructurally after a standardized trauma. In normal muscle, extracellular matrix (ECM) protein tenascin was restricted to myotendinous junctions (MTJ), while the integrin beta 1-subunit was present also on the sarcolemma. After injury, tenascin increased on the outer surface of regenerating myofibers, where cellular fibronectin also accumulated. Later, tenascin concentrated at the tips of regenerating myofibers, where new MTJs were formed. The beta 1-subunit disappeared on necrotized myofibers and reappeared on regenerating fibers in a thicker layer. The regenerating myofibers were invested by a basal lamina, except for the growth cones at the distal ends, which were laminin-negative until the formation of MTJs occurred. These results indicate that regenerating muscle cells are attached to the ECM in a way that allows both growth of the muscle cells across the scar and their use before the regeneration is completed.     

Age, fiber type composition and in vitro contracture responses in human malignant hyperthermia

Muscle fiber typing and in vitro contracture tests were performed in 59 patients investigated for susceptibility to malignant hyperthermia (MH). Eighteen patients were found to be susceptible to MH. There was no difference in age or fiber type distribution between MH susceptible and non-susceptible patients. No correlation was found between age and fiber type distribution. Separate analyses for each diagnostic group revealed no relationship between age or fiber type distribution and response to halothane or caffeine. When all caffeine results were pooled, however, there was a significant effect of age on the caffeine specific concentration (the concentration eliciting a contracture of 1 g), but not on the caffeine threshold concentration (the minimal concentration eliciting an increase in tension). It is concluded that age and fiber type distribution have no influence on MH diagnosis, if the protocol of the European MH Group for evaluation of susceptibility to MH is followed.     

低强度激光照射诱导大鼠胸主动脉金属硫蛋白的生成

目的：观察低强度红激光照射对大鼠脑主动脉金属硫蛋白（metallothionein,MT)生成的影响，探讨激光照射的细胞保护机制。方法：取24只大鼠的胸主动脉，将其制成厚度为0．5mm的薄片，置于含10％胎牛血清Krebs-Henseleit液6孔培养板，经95％O2－5％CO2、37℃孵育。设对照组及3个实验组，对照组不照射激光，3个实验组分别以功率密度为3、6和12J／cm^2的632nm波长的激光照射。采用竞争性RT－PCR法测定胸主动脉内MT的mRNA水平变化，以^109Cd牛血红蛋白饱和法测定MT的含量。结果：3个实验组MT1 mRNA水平分别比对照组增加175％（P＞0.05)、418．6％（P＜0．05）和668．2％（P＜0．01）；MT2 mRNA水平分别比对照组增加163．9（P＞0．05）、615％、（P＜0．01）和1087％（P＜0．01）；相应的MT蛋白含量分别比对照组增加142．8％（P＜0．05）、170．8％（P＜0．05）和142．1％（P＜0．05）。     

A definition and systems view of anaerobic capacity

The purpose of this paper is both to define terms used in exercise physiology, i.e. anaerobic capacity, anaerobic work capacity and anaerobic potential, and develop a systems perspective of anaerobic capacity. Philosophical argument is used to support the proposed definitions and systems view, which is an approach to assist in the universal acceptance of such terms amongst scientific investigators, coaches and athletes, and provide a focus on physiological mechanisms associated with anaerobic capacity which may be the subject of future investigation.     

骨骼肌最大收缩力与最适初长度及其参数的研究

本实验以免载体股直肌为实验模型,研究了该肌在一定脉冲电流刺激下其初长度与收缩力、肌张力及肌力变化的相互关系。同时测定了正常生理状态下兔伸屈膝时股直肌拉长度的变化。结果表明:兔股直肌延长在1.0cm内时,肌力随初长度的延长而增大,超过1.0cm时增大已不明显(p<0.0 1),1.0cm与股直肌的生理最大延长度1.1cm相似。说明兔股直肌的初长度变化不应超过生理最大延长度。而人的骨骼肌与哺乳动物的骨骼肌没有本质的区别,因此,人骨骼肌的初长度变化也不应超过生理最大延长度。肌腱转位后的活动范围应在原位的生理活动范围内,才能发挥最佳收缩效应。     

Activities of creatine kinase isoenzymes in single skeletal muscle fibres of trained and untrained rats

Biochemical changes in the creatine kinase isoenzyme compositions in single muscle fibres of different types in rats were induced by endurance running training. Single muscle fibres were dissected from the soleus and extensor digitorum longus muscles of Wistarstrain male rats trained on a motor-driven treadmill for 16 weeks. Each fibre was typed histochemically (SO, slow-twitch oxidative; FOG, fast-twitch oxidative glycolytic; FG, fast-twitch glycolytic), and the activities of total creatine kinase and its four isoenzymes (CK-MM, -MB,-BB, and mitochondrial creatine kinase) were measured. The endurance training did not affect the total creatine kinase activity, but resulted in significantly increased activities of CK-MB and CK-BB in SO and FOG fibres, and the mitochondrial enzyme activity in FOG and FG fibres. Endurance training induced biochemical changes in the isoenzyme compositions, specifically in FOG fibres. These results suggest that changes in creatine kinase isoenzymes with endurance training reflect changes in the energy metabolism in the different muscle fibres, supporting the hypothesis that the different isoenzymes play different roles in energy transduction.