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Manganotti P, Buoite Stella A, Ajcevic M, di Girolamo FG, Biolo G, Franchi MV, Monti E, Sirago G, Marusic U, Simunic B, Narici MV, Pisot R. Peripheral nerve adaptations to 10 days of horizontal bed rest in healthy young adult males. Am J Physiol Regul Integr Comp Physiol 2021; 321:R495-R503. [PMID: 34318712 DOI: 10.1152/ajpregu.00146.2021] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/22/2022]
Abstract
Space analogs, such as bed rest, are used to reproduce microgravity-induced morphological and physiological changes and can be used as clinical models of prolonged inactivity. Nevertheless, nonuniform decreases in muscle mass and function have been frequently reported, and peripheral nerve adaptations have been poorly studied, although some of these mechanisms may be explained. Ten young healthy males (18-33 yr) underwent 10 days of horizontal bed rest. Peripheral neurophysiological assessments were performed bilaterally for the dominant (DL) and nondominant upper and lower limbs (N-DL) on the 1st and 10th day of bed rest, including ultrasound of the median, deep peroneal nerve (DPN), and common fibular nerve (CFN) , as well as a complete nerve conduction study (NCS) of the upper and lower limbs. Consistently, reduced F waves, suggesting peripheral nerve dysfunction, of both the peroneal (DL: P = 0.005, N-DL: P = 0.013) and tibial nerves (DL: P = 0.037, N-DL: P = 0.005) were found bilaterally, whereas no changes were observed in nerve ultrasound or other parameters of the NCS of both the upper and lower limbs. In these young healthy males, only the F waves, known to respond to postural changes, were significantly affected by short-term bed rest. These preliminary results suggest that during simulated microgravity, most changes occur at the muscle or central nervous system level. Since the assessment of F waves is common in clinical neurophysiological examinations, caution should be used when testing individuals after prolonged immobility.
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Affiliation(s)
- Paolo Manganotti
- Clinical Unit of Neurology, Department of Medicine, Surgery and Health Sciences, University Hospital of Trieste, University of Trieste, Trieste, Italy
| | - Alex Buoite Stella
- Clinical Unit of Neurology, Department of Medicine, Surgery and Health Sciences, University Hospital of Trieste, University of Trieste, Trieste, Italy
| | - Milos Ajcevic
- Clinical Unit of Neurology, Department of Medicine, Surgery and Health Sciences, University Hospital of Trieste, University of Trieste, Trieste, Italy.,Department of Engineering and Architecture, University of Trieste, Trieste, Italy
| | - Filippo Giorgio di Girolamo
- Clinica Medica, Azienda Sanitaria Universitaria Giuliano Isontina, Department of Medical, Surgical and Health Sciences, University of Trieste, Trieste, Italy
| | - Gianni Biolo
- Clinica Medica, Azienda Sanitaria Universitaria Giuliano Isontina, Department of Medical, Surgical and Health Sciences, University of Trieste, Trieste, Italy
| | - Martino V Franchi
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, University of Padova, Padova, Italy
| | - Elena Monti
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, University of Padova, Padova, Italy
| | - Giuseppe Sirago
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, University of Padova, Padova, Italy
| | - Uros Marusic
- Science and Research Center Koper, Institute for Kinesiology Research, Koper, Slovenia.,Department of Health Sciences, Alma Mater Europaea - European Center Maribor, Maribor, Slovenia
| | - Bostjan Simunic
- Science and Research Center Koper, Institute for Kinesiology Research, Koper, Slovenia
| | - Marco V Narici
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, University of Padova, Padova, Italy.,Science and Research Center Koper, Institute for Kinesiology Research, Koper, Slovenia
| | - Rado Pisot
- Science and Research Center Koper, Institute for Kinesiology Research, Koper, Slovenia
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