Electrical stimulation prevents deterioration of the oxidative capacity of disuse-atrophied muscles in rats.

Introduction: The purpose of this study was to evaluate the effects of electrical stimulation on disuse-atrophied muscles.

Methods: Sprague-Dawley rats were used and divided into three groups: control (C), hind-limb suspended for 7 d (HS), and HS plus transcutaneous electrical stimulation for 7 d (ES). In the ES group, transcutaneous electrical stimulation was induced at 1 Hz for 1 h every day to condition the gastrocnemius-plantaris-soleus muscles. Muscle oxidative capacity was evaluated by 31P-MRS in vivo. Maximum tension and muscle wet mass were also measured.

Results: Muscle oxidative capacity decreased within 1 wk in HS; however, it was maintained when electric stimulation was applied to the suspended limb. The maximum twitch tension in HS was significantly smaller than that in C (p < 0.05), while in ES it did not differ from that in C. The muscle mass was significantly smaller in the HS and ES groups compared to C (p < 0.05).

Conclusion: These data indicated that twitch electrical stimulation was effective in preventing deterioration of muscle functions, such as maximum tension and oxidative capacity, induced by 1 wk of disuse.