open access

Vol 43, No 4 (2005)
Original paper
Submitted: 2011-12-19
Published online: 2005-12-31
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Ultrastructural features of supraspinal muscles in rabbits after long-term transcutaneous lateral electrical surface stimulation (LESS)

Ireneusz M. Kowalski, Józef Szarek, Izabella Babińska, Joanna Wojtkiewicz, Anna Andrzejewska, Joanna Lipińska, Mariusz Majewski
Folia Histochem Cytobiol 2005;43(4):243-247.

open access

Vol 43, No 4 (2005)
ORIGINAL PAPERS
Submitted: 2011-12-19
Published online: 2005-12-31

Abstract

Lateral electrical surface stimulation is one of methods used in the therapy of the progressive form of idiopathic scoliosis (IS) in children and youth. However, there are data suggesting that this method may lead to serious adverse side effects, when used for a too long period of time per day. To clarify this issue, the present study was aimed at disclosing possible changes in the ultrastructural appearance of rabbit supraspinal muscles undergoing long-term stimulation (9 h per day, 3 months), an animal model successfully used to mimic the situation in humans. In comparison to the control animals, muscles of "overstimulated" rabbits exhibited clear signs of microscopical lesions, including depletion and disintegration of myofilaments, proliferation, dilatation and, sometimes, swelling of sarcoplasmic reticulum and/or mitochondria, as well as signs of destruction of the Z line. The above-mentioned abnormalities, especially the signs of degenerative processes associated with the Z line and the observed microlesions strongly suggest that the failure of the long-term LESS therapy of the IS may be attributable to these ultrastructural lesions.

Abstract

Lateral electrical surface stimulation is one of methods used in the therapy of the progressive form of idiopathic scoliosis (IS) in children and youth. However, there are data suggesting that this method may lead to serious adverse side effects, when used for a too long period of time per day. To clarify this issue, the present study was aimed at disclosing possible changes in the ultrastructural appearance of rabbit supraspinal muscles undergoing long-term stimulation (9 h per day, 3 months), an animal model successfully used to mimic the situation in humans. In comparison to the control animals, muscles of "overstimulated" rabbits exhibited clear signs of microscopical lesions, including depletion and disintegration of myofilaments, proliferation, dilatation and, sometimes, swelling of sarcoplasmic reticulum and/or mitochondria, as well as signs of destruction of the Z line. The above-mentioned abnormalities, especially the signs of degenerative processes associated with the Z line and the observed microlesions strongly suggest that the failure of the long-term LESS therapy of the IS may be attributable to these ultrastructural lesions.
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Keywords

Idiopathic scoliosis; Lateral electrical surface stimulation (LESS); Muscle; Ultrastructure; Rabbit

About this article
Title

Ultrastructural features of supraspinal muscles in rabbits after long-term transcutaneous lateral electrical surface stimulation (LESS)

Journal

Folia Histochemica et Cytobiologica

Issue

Vol 43, No 4 (2005)

Article type

Original paper

Pages

243-247

Published online

2005-12-31

Page views

1357

Article views/downloads

964

Bibliographic record

Folia Histochem Cytobiol 2005;43(4):243-247.

Keywords

Idiopathic scoliosis
Lateral electrical surface stimulation (LESS)
Muscle
Ultrastructure
Rabbit

Authors

Ireneusz M. Kowalski
Józef Szarek
Izabella Babińska
Joanna Wojtkiewicz
Anna Andrzejewska
Joanna Lipińska
Mariusz Majewski

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