Abstract
Alcohol use and aging are risk factors for falls requiring immobilization and leading to skeletal muscle atrophy. Skeletal muscle regeneration is integral to post-immobilization recovery. This study aimed to elucidate the effects of alcohol and ovarian hormone loss on the expression of genes implicated in muscle regeneration. Three-month-old female rats received an ovariectomy or a sham surgery, consumed an alcohol-containing or control diet for 10 weeks, were subjected to unilateral hind limb immobilization for seven days, and finally were allowed a three (3d)- or 14 (14d)-day recovery. Immobilization decreased the quadriceps weight at 3d and 14d, and alcohol decreased the quadriceps weight at 14d in the nonimmobilized hind limb (NI). At 3d, alcohol decreased gene expression of myoblast determination protein (MyoD) in the immobilized hind limb (IMM) and myocyte enhancer factor (Mef)2C and tumor necrosis factor (TNF)α in NI, and ovariectomy increased MyoD and decreased TNFα expression in NI. At 14d, alcohol increased the gene expression of Mef2C, MyoD, TNFα, and transforming growth factor (TFG)β in IMM and decreased monocyte chemoattractant protein (MCP)1 expression in NI; ovariectomy increased TNFα expression in NI, and alcohol and ovariectomy together increased Mef2C expression in NI. Despite increased TGFβ expression, there was no concomitant alcohol-mediated increase in collagen in IMM at 14d. Overall, these data indicate that alcohol dysregulated the post-immobilization alteration in the expression of genes implicated in regeneration. Whether alcohol-mediated molecular changes correspond with post-immobilization functional alterations remains to be determined.
Highlights
Chronic alcohol use increases the risk of injuries, including falls caused by incoordination, imbalance, and motor vehicle accidents [1,2,3]
The effects of chronic alcohol consumption and ovarian hormone loss on changes in the expression of genes implicated in muscle regeneration and recovery following unilateral hind limb immobilization were examined
Alcohol decreased quadriceps weight in the nonimmobilized hind limb after 14 days of post-immobilization recovery, suggesting that alcoholic myopathy was induced in this group
Summary
Chronic alcohol use increases the risk of injuries, including falls caused by incoordination, imbalance, and motor vehicle accidents [1,2,3]. 40% of traumatic injuries involve alcohol intoxication [1,4], and falls are the most frequent [5]. Alcohol is an independent risk factor for osteoporotic fractures [6,7,8], including hip fractures [8,9,10]. The increased rate of fall-related injuries in individuals with unhealthy alcohol use leads to a higher incidence of immobilization or prolonged bed rest, especially in the aging population. 30% of hospitalized older patients are diagnosed with alcohol use disorders [13]
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