Characterization of microstructural changes on electroacupuncture induced rat skeletal muscle by low-field NMR and microscope image

Qingwen Ni, Cesar RiveraÃâ

Abstract

An electroacupuncuture method has been applied on r at skeletal muscle for determining whether this tre atment can attenuate or prevent muscle degradation during the disuse. It was tested on a hind limb suspension (HS ) disuse rat model, and by using a non-destructive Nuclear Magne tic Resonance (NMR) relaxation technique, and micro scope image analysis technique, as well the muscle mass a nd density measurements to characterize the muscle microstructural changes. Our study suggests that el ectroacupubcuture technique is an effective method in preventing muscle degradation in a disuse rat model .