WESTERN DIET AFFECTS TIBIAL STRUCTURE AND FUNCTION FOLLOWING VOLUMETRIC MUSCLE LOSS INJURY IN MICE

Authors

Courtney M. Morris, University of GeorgiaFollow
Albino G. Schifino, University of GeorgiaFollow
Jun-Won Heo, University of GeorgiaFollow
Matthew Campbell, University of GeorgiaFollow
Marion Cooley, Augusta UniversityFollow
Roger X. Zhong, Augusta UniversityFollow
Gordon L. Warren, Georgia State UniversityFollow
Jarrod A. Call, University of GeorgiaFollow

Abstract

BACKGROUND: Volumetric muscle loss (VML) injury is the surgical or traumatic removal of muscle tissue resulting in irrecoverable loss of muscle function, and maladaptation to the adjacent tibia. Western diet (WD) results in excessive weight gain and altered muscle metabolism, which may influence the muscle-bone relationship following traumatic injury. To date, limited investigations into the influence of Western Diet on the muscle-bone relationship following traumatic injury have been made. Therefore, the purpose of our study was to determine whether WD following VML injury results in altered muscle and bone functional capacity. METHODS: Male C57Bl/6 mice (N=23) were subjected to a unilateral VML injury to the gastrocnemius muscle (~15%). Mice were randomized into two groups: VML + Normal Chow (VML-NC) (n=11) and VML + Western Diet (VML-WD) (n=12). Eight weeks after VML injury animals were assessed for body mass, peak-isometric strength of the injured limb, tibial mid-diaphysis microtomography, and whole-bone (tibia) functional capacity via a 3-point bending test. RESULTS: VML-WD resulted in a significantly greater body mass (46.01 ± 6.77 vs 32.20 ± 1.95 grams, p<0.0001) as compared to VML-NC. There were no significant differences between VML-NC and VML-WD in tibial mass (66.08 ± 7.46 vs 64.70 ± 7.43 mgs, p=0.66), normalized peak-isometric strength (118.60 ± 24.50 vs 109.60 ± 18.70 mN-m/mg muscle mass, p=0.32), and cortical bone CSMI (0.15 ± 0.027 vs 0.16 ± 0.032 mm4, p=0.046), CSA (1.10 ± 0.11 vs 1.02 ± 0.082 mm2, p=0.071), as well as ultimate load (22.15 ± 2.74 vs 17.20 ± 3.11 N, p=0.0006) were significantly greater in VML-WD as compared to VML-NC. CONCLUSIONS: Our data suggest that WD increased tibia bone strength, therefore, tibial bones remain plastic after VML injury. Further investigation is needed to understand how weight-bearing load affects bone structure-function following traumatic injury. This abstract submission is sponsored by Dr. Kevin McCully1, FACSM.

Recommended Citation

Morris, Courtney M.; Schifino, Albino G.; Heo, Jun-Won; Campbell, Matthew; Cooley, Marion; Zhong, Roger X.; Warren, Gordon L.; and Call, Jarrod A. (2024) "WESTERN DIET AFFECTS TIBIAL STRUCTURE AND FUNCTION FOLLOWING VOLUMETRIC MUSCLE LOSS INJURY IN MICE," International Journal of Exercise Science: Conference Proceedings: Vol. 16: Iss. 3, Article 316.
Available at: https://digitalcommons.wku.edu/ijesab/vol16/iss3/316