فصلنامه ابن سینا (Oct 2024)
The effect of HIIT before and after hindlimb suspension on the gene expression of MSTN and ActrIIB in skeletal muscle of male Wistar rats
Abstract
Background and aims: Exercise training is employed as a practical method to combat muscle atrophy. The purpose of this study was to investigate the effects of high-intensity interval training (HIIT) conducted before and after hindlimb suspension (HLS) on the gene expression of MSTN and ActRIIB in the skeletal muscle of male Wistar rats. Methods: Thirty-two male rats, aged four to six months, were randomly divided into four groups (N=8 each): (1) control, (2) training-suspension-retraining, (3) non-training-suspension-retraining, and (4) training-suspension-non-training. The HIIT duration was five weeks, while the HLS lasted for two weeks. Gene expression levels were assessed using RT-PCR. Results: A significant decrease in the expression of MSTN and ActRIIB was observed in the soleus muscle of the group (2) compared to the other groups (p<0.05). There was also a notable reduction in MSTN expression in the extensor digitorum longus (EDL) muscle among the experimental groups relative to the control group (p<0.05), with the group (2) showing a greater effect than the others. Additionally, a significant decline in ActRIIB expression in the EDL muscle of the group (2) was noted compared to the other groups (p<0.05). The group (3) also exhibited a significant decrease in ActRIIB expression in the EDL muscle compared to the control group (p<0.05). Conclusion: The findings of this study suggest that the training-retraining approach (with HIIT) is particularly effective in mitigating muscle atrophy induced by HLS. These results highlight the HIIT training model as a highly efficient treatment method for preventing and reducing atrophy in rodent skeletal muscle.
