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Effect of Aging on Tongue Protrusion Forces in Rats

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Abstract

The purpose of this study was to ascertain the effect of aging on muscle contractile properties associated with tongue protrusion in a rat model. Fischer 344/Brown Norway hybrid rats, ten young (9 months old) and ten old (32 months old), were used to measure protrusive contractile properties. Results showed a significant reduction in tetanic forces in the old animals. The following measures of muscle contraction were not different between age groups: mean twitch contraction force, twitch contraction time, twitch contraction half-decay time, and a calculated measure of fatigability. In conclusion, aging influenced protrusive tongue muscle contractions in a rat model such that tetanic forces were reduced. The reduction of tetanus force may parallel findings in human subjects relative to isometric tongue force generation and may be associated with age-related disorders of swallowing.

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Acknowledgments

The authors gratefully acknowledge Nick Weber, Jessica Tiede, Richard Konopacki, and Dr. Glen Leverson, biostatistician, in the completion of this work. In addition, the authors thank Dr. David Fuller for sharing his expertise in the recording of tongue protrusion contractions in a rat model. This work was funded by grants from the National Institute of Deafness and Other Communication Disorders (R01DC005935 and R01DC008149).

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Surgery, Division of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, University of Wisconsin, Madison, Wisconsin, 53792, USA

    Hiromi Nagai, Michelle A. Jackson & Nadine P. Connor

  2. Department of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, Kitasato University School of Medicine, Kanagawa, Japan

    Hiromi Nagai

  3. William S, Middleton Memorial Veterans Hospital, Madison, Wisconsin, 53792, USA

    John A. Russell

  4. Department of Communicative Disorders, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, Wisconsin, 53792, USA

    Nadine P. Connor

  5. Otolaryngology Head-Neck Surgery & Communicative Disorders, 600 Highland Avenue, Room K4/711, Madison, Wisconsin, 53792, USA

    Nadine P. Connor

Authors
  1. Hiromi Nagai
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  2. John A. Russell
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  3. Michelle A. Jackson
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  4. Nadine P. Connor
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Correspondence to Nadine P. Connor.

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Nagai, H., Russell, J.A., Jackson, M.A. et al. Effect of Aging on Tongue Protrusion Forces in Rats. Dysphagia 23, 116–121 (2008). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00455-007-9103-6

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00455-007-9103-6

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