Histological changes in skeletal muscle induced by heart failure in human patients and animal models: A scoping review

• Published in: Acta histochemica 2024-12, Vol.126 (8), p.152210, Article 152210
• Main Authors: Kaneguchi, Akinori, Sakitani, Naoyoshi, Umehara, Takuya
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Animal models; Animals; Biopsy; Disease Models, Animal; Heart failure; Heart Failure - pathology; Heart Failure - physiopathology; Histology; Humans; Muscle, Skeletal - pathology; Skeletal muscle
• ISSN: 0065-1281; 1618-0372; 1618-0372
• DOI: 10.1016/j.acthis.2024.152210

This scoping review aimed to characterize the histological changes in skeletal muscle after heart failure (HF) and to identify gaps in knowledge. On April 03, 2024, systematic searches were performed for papers in which histological analyses were conducted on skeletal muscle sampled from patients with HF or animal models of HF. Screening and data extraction were conducted by two independent authors. A total of 118 papers were selected, including 33 human and 85 animal studies. Despite some disagreements among studies, some trends were observed. These trends included a slow-to-fast transition, a decrease in muscle fiber size, capillary to muscle fiber ratio, and mitochondrial activity and content, and an increase in apoptosis. These changes may contribute to the fatigability and decrease in muscle strength observed after HF. Although there were some disagreements between the results of human and animal studies, the results were generally similar. Animal models of HF will therefore be useful in elucidating the histological changes in skeletal muscle that occur in human patients with HF. Because the muscles subjected to histological analysis were mostly thigh muscles in humans and mostly lower leg muscles in animals, it remains uncertain whether changes similar to those seen in lower limb (hindlimb) muscles after HF also occur in upper limb (forelimb) muscles. The results of this review will consolidate the current knowledge on HF-induced histological changes in skeletal muscle and consequently aid in the rehabilitation of patients with HF and future studies. •Characterizes histological changes in skeletal muscle after heart failure (HF).•Observed trends: fiber type shift (slow-to-fast) and reduced muscle fiber size.•Noted decrease in capillary to fiber ratio and mitochondrial activity/content.•Animal models valuable for understanding HF-induced muscle changes in humans.•Findings aid in HF patient rehabilitation and guide future research.