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Skeletal muscle is responsible for all voluntary movement of the body and comprises 40-50% of our total body mass. In addition to movement, skeletal muscle plays critical roles in metabolic and thermoregulatory processes. Therefore the maintenance of adequate muscle mass is critical for health, independence and quality of life. |
Many situations can lead to a loss of skeletal muscle, called atrophy. For example, decreased muscle use, as might occur during recovery from illness or injury. Aging is also associated with muscle atrophy. Understanding how using a muscle affects its mass is the 1st step in developing effective methods to maintain muscle mass and/or recover mass during rehabilitation.
Our research is focused on determining the signaling mechanisms which connect mechanical forces to changes in the phenotype of adult skeletal muscle fibers.
Experimental models currently in use in our lab include:
- In Vivo rodent models.
Treadmill exercise, synergist ablation-induced muscle overload, and immobilization-induced muscle atrophy.
- In Vitro models using rodent muscle.
Isolated myofibers, Primary cultures of muscle satellite cells.
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