Morphometric study of post-joint immobilization of soleus muscle on wistar lineage rats - DOI: 10.4025/actascihealthsci.v32i1.5908

Abstract

All types of immobilization contribute to muscular atrophy and, in a few days, the muscles undergo volume reduction or loss of function, known as atrophy. Thus, with one or two weeks of immobilization, metabolic activities are considerably reduced and muscle fibers are replaced by dense fibrous scar tissue. This study has as objective to analyze the effect of joint immobilization of the soleus muscle of posterior members of rats on morphometric profile view, at periods of 7 and 14 days. Ten male Rattus navergicus albinus, Wistar variety, were used, separated into two groups of 5 animals each, with the first group submitted to immobilization for 7 days and the second for 14 days. The experiment control was acquired from the right contralateral member of each animal. The immobilization of the left posterior member was done by adapted orthesis. The morphometric analysis of soleus was by non-serial cross sections, 5µm thick. From the obtained images, the muscle fibers areas were analyzed, including connective tissue density, comparing with the control group. With 7 and 14 days of immobilization, a significant reduction (p < 0.05) in muscle fiber area can be observed, associated with an increase in interstitial spaces, mostly around muscle fascicules. This suggests there is an increase in conjunctive tissue density and muscular hypotrophy. Thus, it can be concluded that immobilization, even for a short period of time, can change skeletal musculature, with important functional implications.