Effects of the infrared lamp illumination during the process of muscle fatigue in rats

Abstracts

In this study the effects of infrared lamp illumination during the muscle fatigue process was studied. Three different groups (n=5) were used: one control group and two treated (Infrared Lamp 780-1400nm), with the energy densities of 0.5 and 1.0 J/cm² and time of illumination of 300 seconds. The treated animals were illuminated in one point directly in the tibialis muscle, after the first tetanic contraction out of six, with an interval between each tetany. The results were registered in an electrophysiograph and the intensity of the force of contraction in grams was analysed. It was observed that the control group presented a reduction in the intensity of the force of contraction, while the treated group managed to maintain it, which was clearly evident in the energy density of 0.5 J/cm². It was concluded that the use of the infrared lamp illumination was efficient concerning resistance to muscle fatigue.

Muscle fatigue; infrared illumination; muscle tension; tetany

Neste estudo investigamos o efeito da irradiação da lâmpada infravermelha durante o processo de fadiga muscular. Foram utilizados 3 grupos diferentes (n=5), sendo 1 grupo controle e 2 irradiados (Lâmpada de Infravermelho 780-1400nm), nas densidades de energia 0,5 e 1,0J/cm² e tempo de irradiação 300 segundos. Os animais irradiados receberam 1 irradiação em 1 ponto, diretamente no músculo tibial, após a primeira contração tetânica de um total de seis, com um intervalo entre cada tetania. Os resultados foram registrados em eletrofisiógrafo e analisado a intensidade da força de contração em gramas. Foi observado que o grupo controle apresentou uma redução na intensidade da força de contração, já os grupos irradiados conseguiram mantê-la, sendo mais evidente quando irradiado com densidade de energia (DE) de 0,5J/cm². Conclui-se que a utilização da irradiação da lâmpada infravermelha é eficaz na resistência a fadiga muscular.

HUMAN AND ANIMAL HEALTH

Effects of the infrared lamp illumination during the process of muscle fatigue in rats

Andréia Zarzour Abou-Hala^I; Daniella Galvão Barbosa^II; Rodrigo Labat Marcos^III; Cristina Pacheco-Soares^I; Newton Soares da SilvaI, ^*

^ILaboratório de Biologia Celular e Tecidual

^IILaboratório de Fluorescência

^IIILaboratório de Fisiologia e Farmacodinâmica; Instituto de Pesquisa e Desenvolvimento; Universidade do Vale do Paraíba - UNIVAP; Av. Shishima Hifumi, 2911; [e-mail]; 12244-000; São José dos Campos - SP - Brasil

ABSTRACT

In this study the effects of infrared lamp illumination during the muscle fatigue process was studied. Three different groups (n=5) were used: one control group and two treated (Infrared Lamp 780-1400nm), with the energy densities of 0.5 and 1.0 J/cm² and time of illumination of 300 seconds. The treated animals were illuminated in one point directly in the tibialis muscle, after the first tetanic contraction out of six, with an interval between each tetany. The results were registered in an electrophysiograph and the intensity of the force of contraction in grams was analysed. It was observed that the control group presented a reduction in the intensity of the force of contraction, while the treated group managed to maintain it, which was clearly evident in the energy density of 0.5 J/cm². It was concluded that the use of the infrared lamp illumination was efficient concerning resistance to muscle fatigue.

Key words: Muscle fatigue; infrared illumination; muscle tension; tetany

RESUMO

Neste estudo investigamos o efeito da irradiação da lâmpada infravermelha durante o processo de fadiga muscular. Foram utilizados 3 grupos diferentes (n=5), sendo 1 grupo controle e 2 irradiados (Lâmpada de Infravermelho 780-1400nm), nas densidades de energia 0,5 e 1,0J/cm² e tempo de irradiação 300 segundos. Os animais irradiados receberam 1 irradiação em 1 ponto, diretamente no músculo tibial, após a primeira contração tetânica de um total de seis, com um intervalo entre cada tetania. Os resultados foram registrados em eletrofisiógrafo e analisado a intensidade da força de contração em gramas. Foi observado que o grupo controle apresentou uma redução na intensidade da força de contração, já os grupos irradiados conseguiram mantê-la, sendo mais evidente quando irradiado com densidade de energia (DE) de 0,5J/cm². Conclui-se que a utilização da irradiação da lâmpada infravermelha é eficaz na resistência a fadiga muscular.

INTRODUCTION

Muscle fatigue can be defined as the group of manifestations produced by work or prolonged exercise. The consequence will be the reduction in maintaining or continuing the expected result (Rossi, 1999; Schwid, 2002). Muscle fatigue may alter muscle functioning due to the exhaustion of mediators at several levels, which can establish a muscular unbalance, making easier the appearance of lesions (Fitts, 1996). Possible causes of the muscle fatigue can be failure of the motor nerve, the neuromuscular junction, the central nervous system and also the contractile mechanism, in which fatigue takes place due to the depletion of the adenosine triphosphate and muscular glycogen stock and the large amount of lactic acid (Fox et al., 1991; Thomas et al., 2003). Muscle fatigue may be the result of impairments at any of a number of sites within the neuromuscular system, which manifests as a decline in the maximum force-generating capacity of the muscle (Fulco at al., 2001; Allman and Rice, 2002).

The skeletal muscle, when exposed to intense and continuous effort, tends to lose its contractile capacity. This occurs because during the contraction, the intramuscular pressure exceeds the blood pressure, obliterating small nutrition vessels and the oxygen flow as well. The muscle cells obtain energy through the anaerobic glycolysis in which the metabolic result is the lactic acid. Clinically, this phenomenon is interpreted as contractures and reduction of the muscular functional capacity, due to decrease in the peak tension and power (Fitts, 1996).

The use of infrared (IR) radiation in the treatment of a variety of medical conditions has been studied for a long time. The IR radiation is applied in the inner part of the electromagnetic spectrum which generates heat when absorbed by matter (Kitchen and Partridge, 1991; Gul and O'Sullivan, 2005). According to Moss et al. (1989), many sources which emit either visible or ultraviolet radiation will also emit IR and this IR radiation have different refractive indices and different reflection, transmission and scattering characteristics, depending on the wavelength of the light. Infrared radiation in the IR-B (medium infrared: 1.4 - 3µm) and IR-C (long infrared: 3m - 1µm) ranges is absorbed in the top layers of the skin. The shorter-wavelength IR-A radiation (780 - 1400hm) has a greater penetrating power. The IR lamp, a non-coherent irradiation, has a wavelength spectrum with a pronounced peak approximately 1000m in the deep-penetrating IR-A range. All of these patterns are quite important when measuring IR radiations but only the reflection and absorption are extremely meaningful biologically and clinically since they have been considered effects of IR radiation on tissues.

The investigation into the effect of the IR lamp illumination during the process of muscle fatigue in tibialis anterior muscle of rats was the main goal of this study.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

In this study the ethical principles of animal experimentation was applied in conformity to COBEA (Brazilian School of Experimentation Animal), having been approved by the Committee of Ethics in Research of UniVap, Protocol n° L007/2003/CEP. Fifteen (15) male Wistar rats were used, weighing between 250 and 300g. During the experiment, the animals were housed under standard conditions in cages, five animals per cage and kept under constant conditions of temperature (22±2°C) with a 12-h light/12-h dark cycle. The rats were fed with ad libitum and supplied with drinking water.

All surgical procedures were performed under aseptic conditions. Each animal was pre-anesthetized with Butorfanol (Torbugesic®), in the dose of 2 mg/Kg via intramuscular (Flecknell, 1996). After 15 minutes, the rat was sedated with chloral hydrate (i.p.), in the dose of 420mg/kg in a 10% solution (Almaguer-Melián et al., 1999) and placed on a surgical table where it was carried through the withdrawal of the skin and dissecation of the muscle previous tibial with the purpose to isolate the nerve fibular deep (responsible for the stimulation of the muscle) isolated the nerve, in the region of the insertion next to the plantar to metatarsus region, the muscle (through the tendon) was connected to an isometric transducer (Ugo Basile®; Vareze, Italy) that it transforms the data of muscle tension into electric signals transmitted to the electrophysiograph and the nerve connected to a bipolar electrode, on to the eletrostimulator, for indirect inervation of the muscle.

The muscle was exposed to a constant tension of 10g. The muscle was stimulated indirectly by pulses of 7 V, 0.2Hz for 2 miliseconds. The muscle and tetanics contractions in response to the indirect stimulations were registered in a physiograph (GEMINI 7070 of UGO BASILE®) through the isometric transducer for approximately 60 minutes. To stimulate the tetanic contraction, the frequency was raised to 60 Hz, every 10 minutes, out of six contractions (Marcos, 2002; Lopes-Martins et al., 2006). During the whole experiment, the muscle was dampened with a sterile saline solution (0.9%) to prevent drying.

The muscle fatigue was determined by the incapacity to keep the muscle contraction. Therefore, there would be a decline of the amplitude in 50% maximum contraction muscle recorded, to prevent the death of the tissue because of the tetanic contraction.

The animals were divided in three groups, which were:

1) Control group: not radiated, with stimulation of 6 tetanic contractions;

2) Infrared Lamp Illumination, energy density of 0.5J/cm²;

3) Infrared Lamp Illumination, energy density of 1.0J/cm².

A PHILIPS^® lamp - Infrared 780-1400nm (Fig. 1) was used. The treated animals were illuminated in one point after the stimulation of the first tetanic contraction, directly in the tibialis muscle exposed at that moment. The patterns of each protocol are indicated in table 1.

At the end of each experiment the animals were killed with excessive intracardiac dose of Sodium Thiopental (Thiopentax^®), 60mg/kg (Thurmon, 1999). The data obtained were analyzed statistically by the test of variance analysis to 5% of probability (ANOVA). The average and the standard error (s.e.) of the average was calculated and the difference among the data of the control group and irradiated was determined by the Tukey test. Significant values were considered statistically with p< 0.05, p<0.01 and p<0.001.

RESULTS

The results of the intensity of the force of contraction measured in each electric stimulation, after tetany were analyzed (Fig. 2). It was observed that in the control group a decrease in the muscle tension (intensity of the muscle force) occurred during the tetanic contractions and this reduction was even better observed by a fall after the first tetanic contraction.

In the treated group with energy density of 0.5J/cm², a significant fall was not observed. In the treated group with energy density of 1.0J/cm², a significant fall was observed after the third tetanic contraction, being more highlighted from the fourth contraction on.

In the animals of the control group, the most significant fall of 26.7% was observed. The treated group with 0.5J/cm² presented a fall of 6.0% (lesser fall) and the treated group of 1.0 J/cm² presented a fall of 14.5%.

DISCUSSION

This study has investigated, through the IR lamp illumination, the reduction of the muscle fatigue in tibialis anterior muscle of rats after stimulation of tetanic contractions by indirect electrical stimulus. By using the IR lamp illumination with energy densities of 0.5 and 1.0 J/cm², it was possible to observe a reduction in the intensity of the force of contraction of 6.0 and 14.5%, respectively; both being less than the control group (26.7%). High levels of certain metabolites in the blood, due to the increased metabolic activity arising from the high temperatures, have a direct effect on vessel walls, stimulating vasodilation (Ward, 1986; Wells et al., 1988; Ganong, 1989). According to Massuda et al. (2005), the high rate of metabolism due to increased body temperature and increased blood flow, decreased subjective symptoms, resulting in increased energy scores, hence promoting a better resistance related to muscular fatigue.

Although has been proved that the use of the IR lamp illumination improve the resistance, further studies should be done in order to determine such effects, clearly showing that the treatment with the IR lamp illumination was efficient.

CONCLUSION

It could be concluded that the use of the IR lamp illumination with energy density of 0.5 J/cm² promoted more resistance to the muscle fatigue.

ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS

We are grateful to Chaker Nayef Abou Hala and Ana Paula Marques de Mendonça Lopes for technical assistance, and Renato Amaro Zângaro, PhD (Laboratório de Fluorescência).

Received: November 12, 2004;

Revised: August 12, 2005;

Accepted: March 12, 2007.

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*

Author for correspondence

Publication Dates

• Publication in this collection
  31 Aug 2007
• Date of issue
  May 2007

History

• Accepted
  12 Mar 2007
• Reviewed
  12 Aug 2005
• Received
  12 Nov 2004