Heteropterys tomentosa Improves the Endurance Capacity of Skeletal Muscles in Trained Rats

Abstract

The association of Heteropterys tomentosa infusion with endurance training improves the efficiency of the extracellular matrix remodeling, resulting in more resistant tendons to support high loads from intense muscle contraction. The present study aimed to evaluate the effect of H. tomentosa infusion on the skeletal muscles of sedentary and exercised animals. Male Wistar rats were divided into: controls sedentary and trained receiving water, plant sedentary and trained receiving 104 mg/day of H. tomentosa infusion. The extensor digitorum longus muscle was harvested and used for histochemical, molecular and ultrastructural analysis. The main muscle fiber types were identified by m-ATPase technique. The point-sampling technique of classical stereology was employed to measure capillaries, muscular fiber and mitochondrial volume density. Testosterone levels and androgen receptor content increased significantly in plant sedentary animals. The muscle cross- section area of the plant trained animals increased significantly after training. Capillary and mitochondria volume density were significantly higher in the plant trained group compared to other groups. However, the association of H. tomentosa and endurance training resulted in increased mean area of oxidative muscle fiber, capillary and mitochondrial volume density suggesting a potential increase of the endurance capacity of these