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Valli G, Wu R, Minnock D, Sirago G, Annibalini G, Casolo A, Del Vecchio A, Toniolo L, Barbieri E, De Vito G. Can non-invasive motor unit analysis reveal distinct neural strategies of force production in young with uncomplicated type 1 diabetes? Eur J Appl Physiol 2024:10.1007/s00421-024-05595-z. [PMID: 39212731 DOI: 10.1007/s00421-024-05595-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/27/2024] [Accepted: 08/23/2024] [Indexed: 09/04/2024]
Abstract
PURPOSE to investigate the early consequences of type 1 diabetes (T1D) on the neural strategies of muscle force production. METHODS motor unit (MU) activity was recorded from the vastus lateralis muscle with High-Density surface Electromyography during isometric knee extension at 20 and 40% of maximum voluntary contraction (MVC) in 8 T1D (4 males, 4 females, 30.5 ± 3.6 years) and 8 matched control (4 males, 4 females, 27.3 ± 5.9 years) participants. Muscle biopsies were also collected from vastus lateralis for fiber type analysis, including myosin heavy chain (MyHC) isoform content via protein and mRNA expression. RESULTS MVC was comparable between groups as well as MU conduction velocity, action potentials' amplitude and proportions of MyHC protein isoforms. Nonetheless, MU discharge rate, relative derecruitment thresholds and mRNA expression of MyHC isoform I were lower in T1D. CONCLUSIONS young people with uncomplicated T1D present a different neural control of muscle force production. Furthermore, differences are detectable non-invasively in absence of any functional manifestation (i.e., force production and fiber type distribution). These novel findings suggest that T1D has early consequences on the neuromuscular system and highlights the necessity of a better characterization of neural control in this population.
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Affiliation(s)
- Giacomo Valli
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, University of Padova, Padua, Italy
- Department of Clinical and Experimental Sciences, University of Brescia, Brescia, Italy
| | - Rui Wu
- School of Electrical and Electronic Engineering, University College Dublin, Belfield, Dublin 4, Ireland
| | - Dean Minnock
- School of Electrical and Electronic Engineering, University College Dublin, Belfield, Dublin 4, Ireland.
| | - Giuseppe Sirago
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, University of Padova, Padua, Italy
- Institute of Sport Sciences and Department of Biomedical Sciences, University of Lausanne, Lausanne, Switzerland
| | - Giosuè Annibalini
- Department of Biomolecular Sciences, University of Urbino Carlo Bo, Urbino, Italy
| | - Andrea Casolo
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, University of Padova, Padua, Italy
| | - Alessandro Del Vecchio
- Department Artificial Intelligence in Biomedical Engineering, Friedrich-Alexander University, Erlangen, Germany
| | - Luana Toniolo
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, University of Padova, Padua, Italy
| | - Elena Barbieri
- Department of Biomolecular Sciences, University of Urbino Carlo Bo, Urbino, Italy
| | - Giuseppe De Vito
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, University of Padova, Padua, Italy
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Lecce E, Conti A, Nuccio S, Felici F, Bazzucchi I. Characterising sex-related differences in lower- and higher-threshold motor unit behaviour through high-density surface electromyography. Exp Physiol 2024; 109:1317-1329. [PMID: 38888901 PMCID: PMC11291872 DOI: 10.1113/ep091823] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/14/2024] [Accepted: 05/28/2024] [Indexed: 06/20/2024]
Abstract
Emerging questions in neuromuscular physiology revolve around whether males and females share similar neural control in diverse tasks across a broad range of intensities. In order to explore these features, high-density electromyography was used to record the myoelectrical activity of biceps brachii during trapezoidal isometric contractions at 35% and 70% of maximal voluntary force (MVF) on 11 male and 13 female participants. Identified motor units were then classified as lower-threshold (recruited at ≤30%MVF) and higher-threshold (recruited at >30%MVF). The discharge rate, interspike interval variability, recruitment and derecruitment thresholds, and estimates of neural drive to motor neurons were assessed. Female lower-threshold motor units showed higher neural drive (P < 0.001), accompanied by higher discharge rate at recruitment (P = 0.006), plateau (P = 0.001) and derecruitment (P = 0.001). On the other hand, male higher-threshold motor units showed greater neural drive (P = 0.04), accompanied by higher discharge rate at recruitment (P = 0.005), plateau (P = 0.04) and derecruitment (P = 0.01). Motor unit discharge rate normalised by the recruitment threshold was significantly higher in female lower-threshold motor units (P < 0.001), while no differences were observed in higher-threshold motor units. Recruitment and derecruitment thresholds are higher in males across all intensities (P < 0.01). However, males and females have similar activation and deactivation strategies, as evidenced by similar recruitment-to-derecruitment ratios (P > 0.05). This study encompasses a broad intensity range to analyse motor unit sex-related differences, highlighting higher neural drive and discharge rates in female lower-threshold motor units, elevated recruitment and derecruitment thresholds in males, and convergences in activation and deactivation strategies. HIGHLIGHTS: What is the central question of the study? Do male and female motor units behave similarly in low- and high-intensity contractions? What is the main finding and its importance? Female motor units show higher discharge rates in low-intensity tasks and lower discharge rates in high-intensity tasks, with no differences in recruitment behaviour. A broader inter-spike interval variability was also observed in females. These findings underline that there are sex-specific differences concern the firing strategies based on task intensity.
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Affiliation(s)
- Edoardo Lecce
- Department of Movement, Human and Health Sciences, Laboratory of Exercise PhysiologyUniversity of Rome ‘Foro Italico’RomeItaly
| | - Alessandra Conti
- Department of Movement, Human and Health Sciences, Laboratory of Exercise PhysiologyUniversity of Rome ‘Foro Italico’RomeItaly
| | - Stefano Nuccio
- Department of Movement, Human and Health Sciences, Laboratory of Exercise PhysiologyUniversity of Rome ‘Foro Italico’RomeItaly
| | - Francesco Felici
- Department of Movement, Human and Health Sciences, Laboratory of Exercise PhysiologyUniversity of Rome ‘Foro Italico’RomeItaly
| | - Ilenia Bazzucchi
- Department of Movement, Human and Health Sciences, Laboratory of Exercise PhysiologyUniversity of Rome ‘Foro Italico’RomeItaly
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Valli G, Ritsche P, Casolo A, Negro F, De Vito G. Tutorial: Analysis of central and peripheral motor unit properties from decomposed High-Density surface EMG signals with openhdemg. J Electromyogr Kinesiol 2024; 74:102850. [PMID: 38065045 DOI: 10.1016/j.jelekin.2023.102850] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/20/2023] [Revised: 10/05/2023] [Accepted: 11/28/2023] [Indexed: 01/29/2024] Open
Abstract
High-Density surface Electromyography (HD-sEMG) is the most established technique for the non-invasive analysis of single motor unit (MU) activity in humans. It provides the possibility to study the central properties (e.g., discharge rate) of large populations of MUs by analysis of their firing pattern. Additionally, by spike-triggered averaging, peripheral properties such as MUs conduction velocity can be estimated over adjacent regions of the muscles and single MUs can be tracked across different recording sessions. In this tutorial, we guide the reader through the investigation of MUs properties from decomposed HD-sEMG recordings by providing both the theoretical knowledge and practical tools necessary to perform the analyses. The practical application of this tutorial is based on openhdemg, a free and open-source community-based framework for the automated analysis of MUs properties built on Python 3 and composed of different modules for HD-sEMG data handling, visualisation, editing, and analysis. openhdemg is interfaceable with most of the available recording software, equipment or decomposition techniques, and all the built-in functions are easily adaptable to different experimental needs. The framework also includes a graphical user interface which enables users with limited coding skills to perform a robust and reliable analysis of MUs properties without coding.
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Affiliation(s)
- Giacomo Valli
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, University of Padova, Padova, Italy; Department of Clinical and Experimental Sciences, University of Brescia, Brescia, Italy.
| | - Paul Ritsche
- Department of Sport, Exercise and Health, University of Basel, Basel, Switzerland.
| | - Andrea Casolo
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, University of Padova, Padova, Italy.
| | - Francesco Negro
- Department of Clinical and Experimental Sciences, University of Brescia, Brescia, Italy.
| | - Giuseppe De Vito
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, University of Padova, Padova, Italy.
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Nishikawa T, Takeda R, Hirono T, Okudaira M, Ohya T, Watanabe K. Differences in acute neuromuscular response after single session of resistance exercise between young and older adults. Exp Gerontol 2024; 185:112346. [PMID: 38104744 DOI: 10.1016/j.exger.2023.112346] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/24/2023] [Revised: 12/07/2023] [Accepted: 12/10/2023] [Indexed: 12/19/2023]
Abstract
AIMS The purpose of this study was to investigate differences in the acute response after resistance exercise between young and older adults. METHODS Seventeen young and 18 older adults performed a single session of resistance exercise, consisting of 3 sets of 10 isometric knee extensions. Maximal voluntary contraction (MVC), motor unit (MU) activity of the vastus lateralis, and electrically elicited torque of the knee extensor were measured before and after the resistance exercise. RESULTS Although both groups showed the same degree of decline in MVC (young: -15.2 ± 14.3 %, older: -16.4 ± 7.9 %, p = 0.839), electrically elicited torque markedly decreased in the young group (young: -21.5 ± 7.7 %, older: -14.3 ± 9.5 %, p < 0.001), and the decrease in the MU firing rate was greater in the older group (young: -26.1 ± 24.1 %, older: -44.7 ± 24.5 %, p < 0.001). Changes in the MU firing rate following the exercise were correlated with the MU recruitment threshold in the older group (p < 0.001, rs = 0.457), but not young group (p = 0.960). DISCUSSION These results showed that young adults exhibited a greater acute response in the peripheral component, whereas older adults showed a greater acute response in the central component of the neuromuscular system, and the acute response in MUs with a high recruitment threshold following resistance exercise was smaller than in those with a low recruitment threshold in older adults. These findings may partly explain why there are different chronic adaptations to resistance training between young and older adults.
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Affiliation(s)
- Taichi Nishikawa
- Graduate School of Health and Sport Sciences, Chukyo University, Toyota, Japan; Laboratory of Neuromuscular Biomechanics, School of Health and Sport Sciences, Chukyo University, Toyota, Japan
| | - Ryosuke Takeda
- Laboratory of Neuromuscular Biomechanics, School of Health and Sport Sciences, Chukyo University, Toyota, Japan
| | - Tetsuya Hirono
- Laboratory of Neuromuscular Biomechanics, School of Health and Sport Sciences, Chukyo University, Toyota, Japan; Research Fellow of Japan Society for the Promotion of Science, Tokyo, Japan
| | - Masamichi Okudaira
- Laboratory of Neuromuscular Biomechanics, School of Health and Sport Sciences, Chukyo University, Toyota, Japan; Faculty of Education, Iwate University, Iwate, Japan
| | - Toshiyuki Ohya
- Laboratory for Exercise Physiology and Biomechanics, Graduate School of Health and Sport Sciences, Chukyo University, Toyota, Japan
| | - Kohei Watanabe
- Laboratory of Neuromuscular Biomechanics, School of Health and Sport Sciences, Chukyo University, Toyota, Japan.
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Knowles KS, Parsowith EJ, Beausejour JP, Pagan JI, Hart JN. The non-invasive assessment of muscle fibre size: has the future arrived? J Physiol 2023; 601:3701-3702. [PMID: 37477293 DOI: 10.1113/jp285106] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 07/22/2023] Open
Affiliation(s)
- Kevan S Knowles
- Neuromuscular Plasticity Laboratory, Institute of Exercise Physiology and Rehabilitation Science, University of Central Florida, Orlando, FL, USA
| | - Emily J Parsowith
- Neuromuscular Plasticity Laboratory, Institute of Exercise Physiology and Rehabilitation Science, University of Central Florida, Orlando, FL, USA
| | - Jonathan P Beausejour
- Neuromuscular Plasticity Laboratory, Institute of Exercise Physiology and Rehabilitation Science, University of Central Florida, Orlando, FL, USA
| | - Jason I Pagan
- Neuromuscular Plasticity Laboratory, Institute of Exercise Physiology and Rehabilitation Science, University of Central Florida, Orlando, FL, USA
| | - Jordan N Hart
- Neuromuscular Plasticity Laboratory, Institute of Exercise Physiology and Rehabilitation Science, University of Central Florida, Orlando, FL, USA
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