Abstract.
The aim of this study was to evaluate the effect of exercise on apoptosis in rat gastrocnemius and soleus muscle tissue and to determine the effect of meloxicam, a novel non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drug (NSAID), on the ratio of exercise-induced apoptosis. Forty male Wistar rats were used in the experiments. Spontaneous wheel-running was used as an exercise protocol. Rats were divided randomly into four groups. Group A (n=10) was the control group, in which rats did not perform any exercise. In group B (n=10), gastrocnemius and soleus muscles were biopsied immediately after exercise. The rats in group C (n=10) were placed back in their cages after exercise and allowed to rest for 48 h, after which the gastrocnemius and soleus muscles were biopsied. In group D (n=10), rats were given 11 mg meloxicam (Mobic, Boehringer Ingelheim) per kilogram body weight per day p.o. for 2 days, after which gastrocnemius and soleus muscles were biopsied 48 h after exercise. The terminal deoxynucleotidyl transferase-mediated deoxyuridine triphosphate (dUTP)-biotin nick end labelling (TUNEL) technique was used to detect DNA fragmentation in situ. TUNEL-positive nuclei were identified and counted. The apoptosis ratio in gastrocnemius muscle was 0.50×10–3±0.96×10–3 in group A, 5.42×10–3±3.58×10–3 in group B, 3.55×10–3±3.23×10–3 in Group C and 3.52×10–3±1.00 in Group D; the ratios in soleus muscle were 0.98×10–3±1.83×10–3, 3.03×10–3±2.78×10–3, 4.48×10–3±3.32×10–3 and 2.91×10–3±1.98×10–3, respectively. The differences between the apoptosis ratios in group A and B, Group A and C, and Group A and D were statistically significant (P<0.05). There was no statistically significant difference between group C and D. In conclusion, exercise increased apoptosis in gastrocnemius and soleus muscle tissue, and the apoptosis ratios were not affected by meloxicam.
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Arslan, S., Erdem, S., Sivri, A. et al. Exercise-induced apoptosis of rat skeletal muscle and the effect of meloxicam. Rheumatol Int 21, 133–136 (2002). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00296-001-0156-9
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00296-001-0156-9