Exercise preconditioning diminishes skeletal muscle atrophy after hindlimb suspension in mice

The aim of the present study was to investigate whether short-term, concurrent exercise training before hindlimb suspension (HLS) prevents or diminishes both soleus and gastrocnemius atrophy and to analyze whether changes in mitochondrial molecular markers were associated. Male C57BL/6 mice were assigned to control at 13 ± 1 wk of age, 7-day HLS at 12 ± 1 wk of age (HLS), 2 wk of exercise training before 7-day HLS at 10 ± 1 wk of age (Ex+HLS), and 2 wk of exercise training at 11 ± 1 wk of age (Ex) groups. HLS resulted in a 27.1% and 21.5% decrease in soleus and gastrocnemius muscle weight-to-body weight ratio, respectively. Exercise training before HLS resulted in a 5.6% and 8.1% decrease in soleus and gastrocnemius weight-to-body weight ratio, respectively. Exercise increased mitochondrial biogenesis- and function-associated markers and slow myosin heavy chain (SMHC) expression, and reduced fiber-type transitioning marker myosin heavy chain 4 (Myh4). Ex+HLS revealed decreased reactive oxygen species (ROS) and oxidative stress compared with HLS. Our data indicated the time before an atrophic setting, particularly caused by muscle unloading, may be a useful period to intervene short-term, progressive exercise training to prevent skeletal muscle atrophy and is associated with mitochondrial biogenesis, function, and redox balance. NEW & NOTEWORTHY Mitochondrial dysfunction is associated with disuse-induced skeletal muscle atrophy, whereas exercise is known to increase mitochondrial biogenesis and function. Here we provide evidence of short-term concurrent exercise training before an atrophic event protecting skeletal muscle from atrophy in two separate muscles with different, dominant fiber-types, and we reveal an association with the adaptive changes of mitochondrial molecular markers to exercise.