1
|
Murphy ER, Thompson R, Osman KL, Haxton C, Brothers M, Lee L, Warncke K, Smith CL, Keilholz AN, Hamad A, Golzy M, Bunyak F, Ma L, Nichols NL, Lever TE. A Strength Endurance Exercise Paradigm Mitigates Deficits in Hypoglossal-Tongue Axis Function, Strength, and Structure in a Rodent Model of Hypoglossal Motor Neuron Degeneration. Front Neurosci 2022; 16:869592. [PMID: 35844238 PMCID: PMC9279620 DOI: 10.3389/fnins.2022.869592] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/04/2022] [Accepted: 05/23/2022] [Indexed: 11/18/2022] Open
Abstract
The tongue plays a crucial role in the swallowing process, and impairment can lead to dysphagia, particularly in motor neuron diseases (MNDs) resulting in hypoglossal-tongue axis degeneration (e.g., amyotrophic lateral sclerosis and progressive bulbar palsy). This study utilized our previously established inducible rodent model of dysphagia due to targeted degeneration of the hypoglossal-tongue axis. This model was created by injecting cholera toxin B conjugated to saporin (CTB-SAP) into the genioglossus muscle of the tongue base for retrograde transport to the hypoglossal (XII) nucleus via the hypoglossal nerve, which provides the sole motor control of the tongue. Our goal was to investigate the effect of high-repetition/low-resistance tongue exercise on tongue function, strength, and structure in four groups of male rats: (1) control + sham exercise (n = 13); (2) control + exercise (n = 10); (3) CTB-SAP + sham exercise (n = 13); and (4) CTB-SAP + exercise (n = 12). For each group, a custom spout with adjustable lick force requirement for fluid access was placed in the home cage overnight on days 4 and 6 post-tongue injection. For the two sham exercise groups, the lick force requirement was negligible. For the two exercise groups, the lick force requirement was set to ∼40% greater than the maximum voluntary lick force for individual rats. Following exercise exposure, we evaluated the effect on hypoglossal-tongue axis function (via videofluoroscopy), strength (via force-lickometer), and structure [via Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) of the brainstem and tongue in a subset of rats]. Results showed that sham-exercised CTB-SAP rats had significant deficits in lick rate, swallow timing, and lick force. In exercised CTB-SAP rats, lick rate and lick force were preserved; however, swallow timing deficits persisted. MRI revealed corresponding degenerative changes in the hypoglossal-tongue axis that were mitigated by tongue exercise. These collective findings suggest that high-repetition/low-resistance tongue exercise in our model is a safe and effective treatment to prevent/diminish signs of hypoglossal-tongue axis degeneration. The next step is to leverage our rat model to optimize exercise dosing parameters and investigate corresponding treatment mechanisms of action for future translation to MND clinical trials.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Erika R. Murphy
- Department of Speech, Language and Hearing Sciences, School of Health Professions, University of Missouri, Columbia, MO, United States
| | - Rebecca Thompson
- Department of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, School of Medicine, University of Missouri, Columbia, MO, United States
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, College of Veterinary Medicine, University of Missouri, Columbia, MO, United States
| | - Kate L. Osman
- Department of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, School of Medicine, University of Missouri, Columbia, MO, United States
| | - Chandler Haxton
- Department of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, School of Medicine, University of Missouri, Columbia, MO, United States
| | - Margaret Brothers
- Department of Speech, Language and Hearing Sciences, School of Health Professions, University of Missouri, Columbia, MO, United States
| | - Li Lee
- Department of Radiology, School of Medicine, University of Missouri, Columbia, MO, United States
- Research Division, Biomolecular Imaging Center, Harry S. Truman Memorial Veterans’ Hospital, Columbia, MO, United States
| | - Kristen Warncke
- Department of Radiology, School of Medicine, University of Missouri, Columbia, MO, United States
- Research Division, Biomolecular Imaging Center, Harry S. Truman Memorial Veterans’ Hospital, Columbia, MO, United States
| | - Catherine L. Smith
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, College of Veterinary Medicine, University of Missouri, Columbia, MO, United States
| | - Amy N. Keilholz
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, College of Veterinary Medicine, University of Missouri, Columbia, MO, United States
| | - Ali Hamad
- Department of Electrical Engineering and Computer Science, University of Missouri, Columbia, MO, United States
| | - Mojgan Golzy
- Biostatistics Unit, Department of Family and Community Medicine, University of Missouri, Columbia, MO, United States
| | - Filiz Bunyak
- Department of Electrical Engineering and Computer Science, University of Missouri, Columbia, MO, United States
| | - Lixin Ma
- Department of Radiology, School of Medicine, University of Missouri, Columbia, MO, United States
- Research Division, Biomolecular Imaging Center, Harry S. Truman Memorial Veterans’ Hospital, Columbia, MO, United States
| | - Nicole L. Nichols
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, College of Veterinary Medicine, University of Missouri, Columbia, MO, United States
- Dalton Cardiovascular Research Center, University of Missouri, Columbia, MO, United States
- *Correspondence: Nicole L. Nichols,
| | - Teresa E. Lever
- Department of Speech, Language and Hearing Sciences, School of Health Professions, University of Missouri, Columbia, MO, United States
- Department of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, School of Medicine, University of Missouri, Columbia, MO, United States
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, College of Veterinary Medicine, University of Missouri, Columbia, MO, United States
- Teresa E. Lever,
| |
Collapse
|
2
|
Assays of Tongue Force, Timing, and Dynamics in Rat and Mouse Models. Brain Res Bull 2022; 185:49-55. [PMID: 35469932 PMCID: PMC10187612 DOI: 10.1016/j.brainresbull.2022.04.008] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/21/2021] [Revised: 04/13/2022] [Accepted: 04/20/2022] [Indexed: 12/18/2022]
Abstract
Communication and swallowing are highly complex sensorimotor events that are tightly linked to respiration and vital to health and well-being. The tongue is a complex organ, often described as a muscular hydrostat, that is crucial for maintaining airway patency, preparing and safely transporting food/liquid, and rapidly changing position and shape for speech. As with any complex behavior, tongue function can be compromised with aging, diseases/conditions, trauma, or as a pharmacologic side effect. As such, modeling lingual function and dysfunction for basic and translational research is paramount; understanding how the nervous system controls tongue function for complex behavior is foundational to this work. Non-invasive access to tongue tissues and kinematics during awake behavior has been historically challenging, creating a critical need to measure tongue function in model systems. Germane to this field of study are the instruments and assays of licking/lapping and drinking, including tongue force and timing measures, many of which were designed or modified by Dr. Stephen C. Fowler. The focus of this paper is to review some of the important contributions of measuring tongue behaviors in awake rats and mice and how these have been modified by other researchers to advance translational science.
Collapse
|
3
|
Buscemi A, Coco M, Rapisarda A, Frazzetto G, Di Rosa D, Feo S, Piluso M, Presente LP, Campisi SS, Desirò P. Tongue stretching: technique and clinical proposal. JOURNAL OF COMPLEMENTARY & INTEGRATIVE MEDICINE 2021; 19:487-491. [PMID: 34364317 DOI: 10.1515/jcim-2020-0101] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/20/2020] [Accepted: 07/11/2021] [Indexed: 11/15/2022]
Abstract
OBJECTIVES The tongue is an organ with multiple functions, from sucking to phonation, from swallowing to postural control and equilibrium. An incorrect position or mechanics of the tongue can causes sucking problems in the newborn or atypical swallowing in the adult, with repercussions on the position of the head and neck, up to influencing upright posture and other problems. Tongue dysfunctions are quite frequent (10-15%) in the population. For the manual therapist, this frequency indicates one to two subjects every 30 patients. Exercises have been proposed to improve the tone and strength of the swallowing muscles but the results are not so clear in the literature. The aim of this study is to describe and provide a tongue muscle normalization technique that helps the manual therapist in the treatment of problems related to it. METHODS The literature has been investigated through pubmed, Google scholar of the last 10 years, the keywords used and combined with the Boolean operators AND and OR, are: "tongue, tongue habits, tongue diseases, taste disorder, neck pain, posture, postural balance, atypical swallowing, muscle stretching exercise, tissue expansion, soft tissue therapy, osteopathic manipulative treatment". RESULTS AND CONCLUSIONS The technique is possible to be executed even in a sitting position, in the case the patient is unable to assume a supine position, the subject should provides immediate feedback that allows the therapist to understand if the technique has been correctly executed. The simplicity of execution and application of the technique makes it a possible and immediate therapeutic tool in the clinical setting.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Andrea Buscemi
- Department of Research, Italian Osteopathy Study Center, Catania, Italy.,Horus Social Cooperative, Ragusa, Italy
| | - Marinella Coco
- Department of Biomedical and Biotechnological Sciences, University of Catania, Catania, Italy
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | - Paolo Desirò
- Fascia Didactics, Osteopathic Spine Center Education, Bologna, Italy
| |
Collapse
|
5
|
Kletzien H, Cullins MJ, Connor NP. Age-related alterations in swallowing biomechanics. Exp Gerontol 2019; 118:45-50. [PMID: 30633957 DOI: 10.1016/j.exger.2019.01.006] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/26/2018] [Revised: 12/14/2018] [Accepted: 01/06/2019] [Indexed: 11/26/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Aging rodent models allow for the discovery of underlying mechanisms of cranial muscle dysfunction. Methods are needed to allow quantification of complex, multivariate biomechanical movements during swallowing. Videofluoroscopic swallow studies (VSS) are the standard of care in assessment of swallowing disorders in patients and validated quantitative, kinematic, and morphometric analysis methods have been developed. Our purpose was to adapt validated morphometric techniques to the rodent to computationally analyze swallowing dysfunction in the aging rodent. METHODS VSS, quantitative analyses (bolus area, bolus velocity, mastication rate) and a rodent specific multivariate, morphometric computational analysis of swallowing biomechanics were performed on 20 swallows from 5 young adult and 5 old Fischer 344/Brown Norway rats. Eight anatomical landmarks were used to track the relative change in position of skeletal levers (cranial base, vertebral column, mandible) and soft tissue landmarks (upper esophageal sphincter, base of tongue). RESULTS Bolus area significantly increased and mastication rate significantly decreased with age. Aging accounted for 77.1% of the variance in swallow biomechanics, and 18.7% of the variance was associated with swallow phase (oral vs pharyngeal). Post hoc analyses identified age-related alterations in tongue base retraction, mastication, and head posture during the swallow. CONCLUSION Geometric morphometric analysis of rodent swallows suggests that swallow biomechanics are altered with age. When used in combination with biological assays of age-related adaptations in neuromuscular systems, this multivariate analysis may increase our understanding of underlying musculoskeletal dysfunction that contributes to swallowing disorders with aging.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Heidi Kletzien
- Division of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Cancer, Department of Surgery, University of Wisconsin School of Medicine and Public Health, United States of America; Department of Biomedical Engineering, University of Wisconsin-Madison, United States of America.
| | - Miranda J Cullins
- Division of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Cancer, Department of Surgery, University of Wisconsin School of Medicine and Public Health, United States of America
| | - Nadine P Connor
- Division of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Cancer, Department of Surgery, University of Wisconsin School of Medicine and Public Health, United States of America; Department of Biomedical Engineering, University of Wisconsin-Madison, United States of America; Department of Communication Sciences and Disorders, University of Wisconsin-Madison, United States of America
| |
Collapse
|