Eccentric stimulation reveals an involvement of FGF6 in muscle resistance to mechanical stress

• Published in: European journal of applied physiology 2011-07, Vol.111 (7), p.1507-1515
• Main Authors: Laziz, Iman, Ferry, Arnaud, Armand, Anne-Sophie, Gallien, Claude Louis, Gaspera, Bruno Della, Charbonnier, F., Chanoine, C.
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Animals; Biological and medical sciences; Biomedical and Life Sciences; Biomedicine; Fibroblast Growth Factor 6 - genetics; Fibroblast Growth Factor 6 - physiology; Fundamental and applied biological sciences. Psychology; Genetic Predisposition to Disease; Human Physiology; Mice; Mice, Inbred C57BL; Mice, Knockout; Muscle Contraction - genetics; Muscle Contraction - physiology; Muscle Fibers, Skeletal - metabolism; Muscle Fibers, Skeletal - physiology; Muscle Strength - genetics; Muscle Strength - physiology; Muscle, Skeletal - metabolism; Muscle, Skeletal - physiology; Muscular Diseases - genetics; Musculoskeletal system; Occupational Medicine/Industrial Medicine; Original Article; Physical Stimulation; Regeneration - genetics; Regeneration - physiology; Sports Medicine; Stress, Mechanical; Vertebrates: body movement. Posture. Locomotion. Flight. Swimming. Physical exercise. Rest. Sports
• ISSN: 1439-6319; 1439-6327
• DOI: 10.1007/s00421-010-1784-0

The objective of this report was to analyse a potential role for FGF6 in muscle resistance to mechanical stress. Normal or regenerating muscles of FGF6 (−/−) mice versus wild-type mice were submitted to different protocols of damaging eccentric contractions (eccentric electrostimulation and intermittent downhill exercise). Then muscular structural properties were analysed by histological and immunochemistry techniques to evaluate the post-injury muscle recovery; their muscle contractile parameters (maximal tetanic force, kinetics properties and fatigue resistance) were assessed. The absence of FGF6 causes (1) a fast-to-slow myofibre type switch in adult control and regenerating Tibialis anterior (TA) muscle; (2) muscle weakness in regenerating muscles in animals submitted to eccentric exercise protocols due to aberrant extensive necrotic zones. These observations point out a crucial and unexpected role for FGF6 in muscle integrity and muscle protection against mechanical stress.