Original Paper

Function of Fast- and Slow-Twitch Rat Skeletal Muscle following Ischemia and Reperfusion at Different Intramuscular Temperatures
L. Gürke^a, A. Marx^b, P.-M. Sutter^a, P. Stierli^a, F. Harder^a, M. Heberer<sup>a

a</sup>Department of Surgical Research, University of Basel, Basel,
^bDipartimento di Chirurgia, Ospedale Regionale, Lugano, Switzerland

Address of Corresponding Author

Eur Surg Res 2000;32:135-141 (DOI: 10.1159/000008754)

  Key Words

• Skeletal muscle
• Muscle function
• Ischemia
• Intramuscular temperature
• Hypothermia
• Reperfusion

  Abstract

Fast- (peroneal) and slow-twitch (soleus) skeletal muscles of anesthetized Wistar rats were subjected to 3 h of tourniquet ischemia. The intramuscular temperature of the leg was adjusted to 22, 30 or 35°C (n = 12 per group) during ischemia. After 2 h of reperfusion, the muscles were electrically stimulated in vitro and muscular function was analyzed for maximal force, performance, contractility and fatigue. Contralateral nonischemic muscles served as controls. Three hours of ischemia at 30°C did not reduce the function of the peroneal muscles compared to nonischemic controls. The same ischemic stress significantly reduced the function of the soleus muscles compared to nonischemic controls. The postischemic function of the soleus muscles declined with increasing temperature. The postischemic function of the 35°C group of peroneal muscles was significantly reduced compared to the 22 and the 30°C groups, which did not differ. These results provide evidence that fast-twitch muscles are more resistant to ischemia than slow-twitch muscles. They furthermore show a fiber type-specific dependency of postischemic muscle function on intramuscular temperature during ischemia. Hypothermia-sensitive fast-twitch fibers predominate in the skeletal muscles of the extremities. Mild hypothermia could, therefore, reduce tourniquet ischemia-induced injury after surgery of the extremities.

Copyright © 2000 S. Karger AG, Basel

  Author Contacts

Lorenz Gürke, MD
Department of Surgical Research, Kantonsspital
CH-4031 Basel (Switzerland)
Tel. +41 61 265 25 25, Fax +41 61 265 88 51
E-Mail lguerke@access.ch

  Article Information

Received: Received: January 10, 2000
Accepted: February 21, 2000
Number of Print Pages : 7
Number of Figures : 5, Number of Tables : 0, Number of References : 38