Muscle atrophy and fibrosis are attenuated after experimental nerve repair associated with heterologous fibrin biopolymer.

Background: Neurotmesis leads to neuromuscular junction (NMJ) degeneration, muscle atrophy, and functional loss. While neurorrhaphy is standard, motor recovery is often incomplete. Heterologous fibrin biopolymer (HFB) shows potential as an adjunct, hence, we investigate HFB's late regenerative effects.

Vitamin E Attenuating Effects Against the Impact of the Herbicide Atrazine on the Diaphragm Muscle of Male Wistar Rats.

Atrazine is an herbicide associated with respiratory disorders and the presence of oxidative stress, which can be reversed by association with antioxidant compounds, such as vitamin E. This study aimed to investigate the impact of atrazine (AZ) on the male rat diaphragm muscle and the attenuating effects of vitamin E. Fifty-two male rats were received for 28 days by gavage ( = 13/group): C (control), corn oil; AZ (100 mg/kg); AZE, AZ (100 mg/kg) and vitamin E (200 mg/kg); E, vitamin E (200 mg/kg).

Heterologous fibrin biopolymer as an emerging approach to peripheral nerve repair: a scoping review.

Nerve injuries present a substantial challenge within the medical domain due to their prevalent occurrence and significant impact. In nerve injuries, a range of physiopathological and metabolic responses come into play to stabilize and repair the resulting damage. A critical concern arises from the disruption of connections at neuromuscular junctions, leading to profound degeneration and substantial loss of muscle function, thereby hampering motor tasks.

Effects of Nandrolone Decanoate on Skeletal Muscle and Neuromuscular Junction of Sedentary and Exercised Rats.

Nandrolone decanoate (ND) is the most widely used among the anabolic androgenic steroids (AAS), synthetic substances derived from testosterone, to improve muscular and health gains associated with exercises. The AAS leads to physical performance enhancement and presents anti-aging properties, but its abuse is associated with several adverse effects. Supraphysiological doses of AAS with or without physical exercise can cause morphological and functional alterations in neuromuscular interactions.

Morphology and computed tomography of the larynx in the white-eared opossum (Didelphis albiventris).

The white-eared opossum (Didelphis albiventris) is a Neotropical marsupial that occurs in the Brazilian territory. The larynx is an important organ of vocalization in mammals, although, other laryngeal functions are more fundamental for survival of mammals than phonation. The anatomical knowledge of respiratory structures is pivotal for a better understanding of the species.

Statin exposure during pregnancy promotes neuromuscular junction alterations in postpartum Wistar rats.

Introduction/aims: The mechanisms that underlie the pathogenesis of statin-associated muscle symptoms (SAMS) remain unclear. Pregnancy is associated with increased cholesterol levels. Statins may be useful during pregnancy, but their safety is uncertain.

Neuroregeneration and immune response after neurorrhaphy are improved with the use of heterologous fibrin biopolymer in addition to suture repair alone.

Introduction/aims: Peripheral nerve injuries result in impaired neuromuscular interactions, leading to morphological and functional alterations. Adjuvant suture repair methods have been used to improve nerve regeneration and modulate the immune response. Heterologous fibrin biopolymer (HFB), a scaffold with adhesive properties, plays a critical role in tissue repair.

Acetylcholine receptors of the neuromuscular junctions present normal distribution after peripheral nerve injury and repair through nerve guidance associated with fibrin biopolymer.

Peripheral nerve injuries (PNI) lead to alterations in the Agrin-LRP4-MuSK pathway. This results in disaggregation of AChRs and change from epsilon (mature, innervated) to gamma (immature, denervated) subunit. Tubulization technique has been shown to be effective for PNI repair and it also allows the use of adjuvants, such as fibrin biopolymer (FB).

Heterologous fibrin biopolymer associated to a single suture stitch enables the return of neuromuscular junction to its mature pattern after peripheral nerve injury.

Denervation leads to severe atrophy of neuromuscular junction (NMJ) structure including decrease of the expression of fundamental proteins. Up to now, conventional suture has been the gold standard method used to correct this injury. Fibrin sealant is one of the alternatives proposed to optimize this method.

Heterologous fibrin sealant potentiates axonal regeneration after peripheral nerve injury with reduction in the number of suture points.

The use of suture associated with heterologous fibrin sealant has been highlighted for reconstruction after peripheral nerve injury, having the advantage of being safe for clinical use. In this study we compared the use of this sealant associated with reduced number of stitches with conventional suture after ischiatic nerve injury. 36 Wistar rats were divided into 4 groups: Control (C), Denervated (D), ischiatic nerve neurotmesis (6 mm gap); Suture (S), epineural anastomosis after 7 days from neurotmesis, Suture + Fibrin Sealant (SFS), anastomosis with only one suture point associated with Fibrin Sealant.

Cholecalciferol in ethanol-preferring rats muscle fibers increases the number and area of type II fibers.

The chronic use of ethanol causes neuropathy and atrophy of type II fibers and promotes vitamin D decrease. This study evaluated cholecalciferol effects on the deep fibular nerve and extensor digitorum longus (EDL) muscle using an UChB ethanol-preferring rats model. Blood analyses were carried out to measure levels of 25-hydroxycholecalciferol (25(OH)D), calcium (Ca), Phosphorus (P), and parathyroid hormone (PTH).

Neuromuscular junctions (NMJs): ultrastructural analysis and nicotinic acetylcholine receptor (nAChR) subunit mRNA expression in offspring subjected to protein restriction throughout pregnancy.

Protein restriction during gestation can alter the skeletal muscle phenotype of offspring; however, little is known with regard to whether this also affects the neuromuscular junction (NMJ), as muscle phenotype maintenance depends upon NMJ functional integrity. This study aimed to evaluate the effects of a low protein (6%) intake by dams throughout gestation on male offspring NMJ morphology and nicotinic acetylcholine receptor (nAChR) α1, γ and ε subunit expression in the soleus (SOL) and extensor digitorum longus (EDL) muscles. Four groups of male Wistar offspring rats were studied.

Effects of duodenal-jejunal bypass on structure of diaphragm in western diet obese rats.

Purpose:: To evaluate the effects of duodenal-jejunal bypass (DJB) on the diaphragm muscle of obese rats fed on a western diet (WD) .

Methods:: Eighteen male Wistar rats were fed a standard rodent chow diet (CTL group) or WD ad libitum. After 10 weeks, WD rats were submitted to sham (WD SHAM) or duodenal-jejunal bypass (WD DJB).

Low-level laser therapy (LLLT) accelerates the sternomastoid muscle regeneration process after myonecrosis due to bupivacaine.

Background: Because of its long-lasting analgesic action, bupivacaine is an anesthetic used for peripheral nerve block and relief of postoperative pain. Muscle degeneration and neurotoxicity are its main limitations. There is strong evidence that low-level laser therapy (LLLT) assists in muscle and nerve repair.

GaAs laser therapy reestablishes the morphology of the NMJ and nAChRs after injury due to bupivacaine.

Background: Local anesthetics are used to relieve pre- and postoperative pain, acting on both sodium channels and nicotinic acetylcholine receptors (nAChR) at the neuromuscular junction (NMJ). Bupivacaine acts as a non-competitive antagonist and has limitations, such as myotoxicity, neurotoxicity, and inflammation. Low-level laser therapy (LLLT) has anti-inflammatory, regenerative, and analgesic effects.

Maternal protein restriction during pregnancy and lactation affects the development of muscle fibers and neuromuscular junctions in rats.

Introduction: A balanced maternal diet is a determining factor in normal fetal development. The objective of this study was to evaluate the effects of maternal protein restriction during pregnancy and lactation on muscle fiber and neuromuscular junction (NMJ) morphology of rat offspring at 21 days of age.

Methods: Wistar rats were divided into a control group (CG), offspring of mothers fed a normal protein diet (17%), and a restricted group (RG), offspring of mothers fed a low-protein diet (6%).

Effects of short-term severe and long-term mild STZ-induced diabetes in urethral tissue of female rats.

Aims: To estimate and compare the alterations in the urethral tissues of female rats with two diabetes models: short-term severe and long-term mild diabetes.

Methods: To induce mild diabetes (blood glucose levels between 120 and 300 mg/dl), female newborns received streptozotocin (100 mg/kg body weight, sc route), and to induce short-term severe diabetes (blood glucose levels > 300 mg/d), adult animals received streptozotocin (40 mg/kg, iv route). The rats were killed on day 133 of the experimental via an i.

Effects of aging and maternal protein restriction on the muscle fibers morphology and neuromuscular junctions of rats after nutritional recovery.

Changes in the nutritional status of mothers may predispose their offspring to neuromuscular disorders in the long term. This study evaluated the effects of maternal protein restriction during pregnancy and lactation on the muscle fibers and neuromuscular junctions (NMJs) of the soleus muscle in the offspring of rats at 365 days of age that had undergone nutritional recovery. Wistar rats were divided into two groups: control (CG)--the offspring of mothers fed a normal protein diet (17%) and restricted (RG)--offspring of mothers fed a low protein diet (6%).

Aerobic training attenuates nicotinic acethylcholine receptor changes in the diaphragm muscle during heart failure.

Introduction: Heart failure (HF) is a progressive myopathy, with clinical signs of fatigue and limb weakness that can damage the nerve-muscle interaction, altering synaptic transmission and nicotinic acetylcholine receptors (nAChR) in neuromuscular junctions (NMJs). The diaphragm is composed of a mixed proportion of muscle fibres, and during HF, this muscle becomes slower and can alter its function. As exercise training is an accepted practice to minimise abnormalities of skeletal muscle during HF, in this study, we evaluated the hypothesis that aerobic training attenuates alterations in the expression of nAChR subunits in NMJs diaphragm during heart failure.

EPA protects against muscle damage in the mdx mouse model of Duchenne muscular dystrophy by promoting a shift from the M1 to M2 macrophage phenotype.

In dystrophic mdx mice and in Duchenne muscular dystrophy, inflammation contributes to myonecrosis. Previously, we demonstrated that eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA) decreased inflammation and necrosis in dystrophic muscle. In the present study, we examined the effects of EPA and the corticoid deflazacort (DFZ) as modulators of M1 (iNOS-expressing cells) and M2 (CD206-expressing cells) macrophages.

Urethral striated muscle and extracellular matrix morphological characteristics among mildly diabetic pregnant rats: translational approach.

Introduction And Hypothesis: Diabetes mellitus (DM) during pregnancy is associated with high levels of urinary incontinence (UI) and pelvic floor muscle dysfunction. Mild DM can lead to changes in urethral striated muscle and extracellular matrix (ECM) in pregnant rats considering both structures as an entire system responsible for urinary continence.

Methods: Ninety-two female Wistar rats were distributed in four experimental groups: virgin, pregnant, diabetic, and diabetic pregnant.

Histological and immunohistochemical study of the expression of p53 and ki-67 proteins in the mucosa of the tongue, pharynx and larynx of rats exposed to cigarette smoke.

Introduction: Head and neck cancers are linked to smoking. The most affected sites are the oral cavity, pharynx and larynx. Experimental studies show epithelial lesions caused by cigarette smoke.

Maternal protein restriction induce skeletal muscle changes without altering the MRFs MyoD and myogenin expression in offspring.

Stimuli during pregnancy, such as protein restriction, can affect morphophysiological parameters in the offspring with consequences in adulthood. The phenomenon known as fetal programming can cause short- and long-term changes in the skeletal muscle phenotype. We investigated the morphology and the myogenic regulatory factors (MRFs) MyoD and myogenin expression in soleus, SOL; oxidative and slow twitching and in extensor digitorum longus, EDL; glycolytic and fast twitching muscles in the offspring of dams subjected to protein restriction during pregnancy.

Morphological aspects of neuromuscular junctions and gene expression of nicotinic acetylcholine receptors (nAChRs) in skeletal muscle of rats with heart failure.

HF is syndrome initiated by a reduction in cardiac function and it is characterized by the activation of compensatory mechanisms. Muscular fatigue and dyspnoea are the more common symptoms in HF; these may be due in part to specific skeletal muscle myopathy characterized by reduced oxidative capacity, a shift from slow fatigue resistant type I to fast less fatigue resistant type II fibers and downregulation of myogenic regulatory factors (MRFs) gene expression that can regulate gene expression of nicotinic acetylcholine receptors (nAChRs). In chronic heart failure, skeletal muscle phenotypic changes could influence the maintenance of the neuromuscular junction morphology and nAChRs gene expression during this syndrome.

Structural characteristics of the tendinous cord-papillary muscle junction in healthy and hypertensive rats.

Although the myotendinous junction (MTJ) of skeletal striated muscle is well known, more detailed studies regarding the structure of the cardiac MTJ are scarce. The objective of the present study was to investigate the morphological characteristics of the MTJ in hearts of healthy and hypertensive (SHR) female rats using histological, ultrastructural and three-dimensional (SEM) methods, as well as to evaluate the expression of vinculin by immunofluorescence. In the two groups, light microscopy showed branching tendinous cords and collagen bundles penetrating the apex of the finger-like projections of the papillary muscle.