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Int J Sports Med 2016; 37(03): 183-190
DOI: 10.1055/s-0035-1555933
Physiology & Biochemistry
© Georg Thieme Verlag KG Stuttgart · New York

A New Surgical Model of Skeletal Muscle Injuries in Rats Reproduces Human Sports Lesions

P. Contreras-Muñoz
1   Leitat Foundation, Leitat Technological Center, Carrer de la Innovació 2, Terrassa, Barcelona, Spain
2   Bioengineering, Orthopedics and Pediatric Surgery Laboratory, Vall d’Hebron Institut de Recerca (VHIR), Universitat Autonoma de Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain
,
A. Fernández-Martín
2   Bioengineering, Orthopedics and Pediatric Surgery Laboratory, Vall d’Hebron Institut de Recerca (VHIR), Universitat Autonoma de Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain
,
R. Torrella
3   Physiology Department, Universitat de Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain
,
X. Serres
4   Ultrasound Unit, Department of Radiology, Hospital Universitari Vall d’Hebron, Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain
,
M. De la Varga
1   Leitat Foundation, Leitat Technological Center, Carrer de la Innovació 2, Terrassa, Barcelona, Spain
,
G. Viscor
3   Physiology Department, Universitat de Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain
,
T. A. H. Järvinen
5   School of Medicine, University of Tampere, Tampere, Finland
6   Department of Orthopedics & Traumatology, Tampere University Hospital, Tampere, Finland
,
V. Martínez-Ibáñez
2   Bioengineering, Orthopedics and Pediatric Surgery Laboratory, Vall d’Hebron Institut de Recerca (VHIR), Universitat Autonoma de Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain
,
J. L. Peiró
2   Bioengineering, Orthopedics and Pediatric Surgery Laboratory, Vall d’Hebron Institut de Recerca (VHIR), Universitat Autonoma de Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain
7   Translational Research in Fetal Surgery for Congenital Malformations Laboratory, Center for Fetal, Cellular and Molecular Therapy, Cincinnati Children’s Hospital Medical Center (CCHMC), Cincinnati, Ohio, USA
,
G. Rodas
1   Leitat Foundation, Leitat Technological Center, Carrer de la Innovació 2, Terrassa, Barcelona, Spain
8   Medical Services, Futbol Club Barcelona, Ciutat Esportiva Futbol Club Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain
,
M. Marotta
1   Leitat Foundation, Leitat Technological Center, Carrer de la Innovació 2, Terrassa, Barcelona, Spain
2   Bioengineering, Orthopedics and Pediatric Surgery Laboratory, Vall d’Hebron Institut de Recerca (VHIR), Universitat Autonoma de Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain
› Author Affiliations
Further Information

Publication History



accepted after revision 18 June 2015

Publication Date:
15 December 2015 (online)

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Abstract

Skeletal muscle injuries are the most common sports-related injuries in sports medicine. In this work, we have generated a new surgically-induced skeletal muscle injury in rats, by using a biopsy needle, which could be easily reproduced and highly mimics skeletal muscle lesions detected in human athletes. By means of histology, immunofluorescence and MRI imaging, we corroborated that our model reproduced the necrosis, inflammation and regeneration processes observed in dystrophic mdx-mice, a model of spontaneous muscle injury, and realistically mimicked the muscle lesions observed in professional athletes. Surgically-injured rat skeletal muscles demonstrated the longitudinal process of muscle regeneration and fibrogenesis as stated by Myosin Heavy Chain developmental (MHCd) and collagen-I protein expression. MRI imaging analysis demonstrated that our muscle injury model reproduces the grade I-II type lesions detected in professional soccer players, including edema around the central tendon and the typically high signal feather shape along muscle fibers. A significant reduction of 30% in maximum tetanus force was also registered after 2 weeks of muscle injury. This new model represents an excellent approach to the study of the mechanisms of muscle injury and repair, and could open new avenues for developing innovative therapeutic approaches to skeletal muscle regeneration in sports medicine.

Key words

skeletal muscle injury - rat model - surgical injury - automatic biopsy needle - human sports lesions
 

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