SpillOver stimulation: A novel hypertrophy model using co-contraction of the plantar-flexors to load the tibial anterior muscle in rats.

ABSTRACT: The influence of loading on muscular hypertrophy has previously been studied in rodents by removal of synergistic muscles or various weight-lifting regimes. We present a novel model, evoking hypertrophy in the rat's tibialis anterior (TA) muscle by means of an implanted single channel electrical nerve stimulator. The amount of load experienced by the TA was measured in acute experiments in anaesthetized rats with contractions over a range of stimulation frequency and amplitude. A novel electrode configuration allowed us to elicit concentric, isometric and eccentric contractions within the same setup. This was achieved by 'SpillOver' stimulation in which we adjusted the amount of co-activation of the stronger antagonistic plantarflexors by increasing the stimulus above the level that caused

SUBMITTER: Schmoll M 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC6245836 | biostudies-literature | 2018

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature