Gary C. Sieck, Genesis A. Hernandez-Vizcarrondo, Alyssa D. Brown, Matthew J. Fogarty
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引用次数: 1
Abstract
The tongue is a muscular hydrostat, with lingual movements occurring during breathing, chewing, swallowing, vocalization, vomiting, coughing and grooming/sexual activities. In the elderly, reduced lingual dysfunction and weakness contribute to increased risks of obstructive sleep apnea and aspiration pneumonia. In Fischer 344 (F344) rats, a validated model of aging, hypoglossal motor neuron death is apparent, although there is no information regarding tongue strength. The intrinsic tongue muscles, the superior and inferior longitudinal, transversalis and verticalis exist in an interdigitated state. Recently, we established a method to measure the specific force of individual intrinsic tongue muscle, accounting for the tissue bulk that is not in the direction of uniaxial force. In the longitudinal muscles of 6- (n = 10), 18- (n = 9) and 24-month-old (n = 12) female and male F344 rats, we assessed specific force, fatigability, fiber type dependent cross-sectional area (CSA) and overall CSA. Muscle force and fatigue was assessed ex vivo using platinum plate simulation electrodes. Tongue muscles were frozen in melting isopentane, and transverse sections cut at 10 µm. Muscle fiber type was classified based on immunoreactivity to myosin heavy chain (MyHC) isoform antibodies. In H&E stained muscle, CSA and uniaxial muscle contributions to total tongue bulk was assessed. We observed a robust ∼30% loss of longitudinal specific force, with reductions in overall longitudinal muscle fiber CSA and specific atrophy of type IIx/IIb fibers. It will be important to investigate the mechanistic underpinnings of hypoglossal motor neuron death and tongue muscle weakness to eventually provide therapies for age-associated lingual dysfunctions.
期刊介绍:
Respiratory Physiology & Neurobiology (RESPNB) publishes original articles and invited reviews concerning physiology and pathophysiology of respiration in its broadest sense.
Although a special focus is on topics in neurobiology, high quality papers in respiratory molecular and cellular biology are also welcome, as are high-quality papers in traditional areas, such as:
-Mechanics of breathing-
Gas exchange and acid-base balance-
Respiration at rest and exercise-
Respiration in unusual conditions, like high or low pressure or changes of temperature, low ambient oxygen-
Embryonic and adult respiration-
Comparative respiratory physiology.
Papers on clinical aspects, original methods, as well as theoretical papers are also considered as long as they foster the understanding of respiratory physiology and pathophysiology.