Authors: M Brown E M Hasser
Publish Date: 2013/12/28
Volume: 8, Issue: 2, Pages: 99-105
Abstract
The changes in hindlimb muscle mass fiber area and contractile tension that occurred with two weeks of reduced weightbearing HU were of greater magnitude in 6monthold as opposed to 36monthold rats The pattern of change following HU for young and old animals differed which may indicate that multiple mechanisms are responsible for the observed changes The majority of old rats had difficulty with ambulation following unweighting suggesting that the functional consequences of reduced weightbearing are greater in old than in young animals One hour of weightbearing during HU attenuated the decline in SOL fiber atrophy muscle mass and Po but had no apparent effect on the GAST PL or EDL The reduction in Po with HU was not due except for the old PL to changes at the neuromuscular junction
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