Transcutaneous Carbon Dioxide Attenuates Impaired Muscle Atrophy And Glucose Metabolism In The Spontaneously Diabetic Rat

Abstract

PURPOSE: Diabetes has been known to result in attenuated growth and atrophy in skeletal muscle. Recently, it has been reported the Carbon dioxide (CO2) exposure leads to an increase of muscle mass in normal rats. Therefore, the aim of the present study was to investigate the effects of transcutaneous CO2 exposure with the hydrogel (eCO2GEL) on diabetic-associated muscle atrophy. METHODS: Male Goto-Kakizaki (GK) rats were divided into control (GK) and CO2 exposure (CO2) groups and male Wistar rats used as a non-diabetic control. The hair on the lower limbs was shaved and the hydrogel (eCO2GEL), which can increase the absorption of CO2 from skin, was applied. The CO2 adaptor was attached to the limbs and sealed, and CO2 gas was administered into the adaptor for 30 min. The CO2 exposure was performed everyday for 8 weeks. RESULTS: The muscle weights of soleus and tibialis anterior in the GK group decreased compared with those of the control group. CO2 exposure attenuated decreased muscle weights in diabetes-associated muscles (P<0.05). In addition, the level of HbA1c and fasting blood glucose were decreased by CO2 exposure compared with non-CO2 exposure condition (P<0.05). Furthermore, the level of LDL cholestrol in the CO2 exposure group was significantly decreased compared with the GK group (P<0.05). CONCLUSIONS: These results indicate that the transcutaneous CO2 exposure may have a therapeutic potential for diabetic-associated muscle atrophy. This amelioration may associate with improved glucose metabolism in skeletal muscle.