Acupuncture treatment preserves soleus muscle mass and improves mitochondrial function in a rat model of disuse atrophy.

ABSTRACT:

Background

Muscle atrophy leads to debilitating loss of physical capacity, particularly when alternative treatments are needed. Acupuncture is proposed as a potential therapy for disuse atrophy, but its effects on muscle biology remain unclear. This study evaluated the effects of acupuncture on soleus muscle mass and mitochondrial function in a rat model of immobilization-induced atrophy.

Methods

Female Sprague Dawley rats were assigned to three groups: Control (CON), casting-induced immobilization (CT), and CT with acupuncture (CT-A) (n = 8). Immobilization of the left hindlimb lasted for 14 days, and acupuncture was performed at specific acupoints (stomach-36, gallbladder-34) three times per week for 15 min. Mitochondrial function was assessed in saponin-permeabiliz

SUBMITTER: Mockler S 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC12269403 | biostudies-literature | 2025 Sep

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature