Russian scientists from the Institute of Medical and Biological Problems of the Russian Academy of Sciences and the Institute of Theoretical and Experimental Biophysics found out how you can support muscle functions in weightlessness and deal with atrophy. The results of the study reported in a press release on the website of Godunuki.rf, will help not only astronauts, but also patients affected by stroke and other diseases.
It is known that in conditions of zero gravity, skeletal muscles begin to atrophy, while the deep muscles of the back and the Cambalo-shaped muscles of the leg, the work of which depends on the support. During the experiment, scientists used rats: they were suspended for the tail in such a way that they do not touch the floor with the rear paws. Some animals conducted a fitted mechanical stimulation with or without injection L-Name – an inhibitor of the NO synthase enzyme.
Rats that did not fall into the group of plantar stimulation, suffered from atrophy, expressed in reducing the mass of muscles, reducing the cross-sectional area of fibers, as well as the degradation of giant sarcomer proteins. When stimulated, these indicators returned to normal, however, it was found that the NO-synthase inhibitor canceled the positive effect. According to the conclusions of scientists, NO-dependent mechanisms are able to play a significant role in maintaining the normal structure of supporting muscles.