Histological and Contractile Changes in the Genioglossus Muscle After Nasal Obstruction in Growing Rats

Overview

Journal Sci Rep

Specialty Science

Date 2023 Apr 17

PMID 37069178

Authors

Karin Harumi Uchima Koecklin

Chiho Kato

Yasunori Abe

Tadachika Yabushita

Satoshi Kokai

Takashi Ono

Affiliations

Soon will be listed here.

Abstract

The aim of the study was to address the genioglossus muscle physiological and histological changes after unilateral nasal obstruction in growing rats. Fifty-four 6-day-old male Wistar albino rats were randomly divided into control (n = 27) and experimental (n = 27) groups. Unilateral nasal obstruction was performed at 8 days old. Contractile properties of the genioglossus whole muscle were measured at 5-, 7- and 9-week-old, including the twitch and tetanic forces, contraction time, half-decay time, and fatigue index. The histological characteristics of the genioglossus were also evaluated at 5-, 7- and 9-week-old, analyzing the myosin heavy chain composition of the slow, fast, IIa and IIb muscle fiber type, by measuring the number, rate, diameter and cross-sectional area. The maximal twitch force, and tetanic force at 60 Hz and 80 Hz force was significantly increased at all ages after nasal obstruction. The fatigue index was decreased at 5 weeks-old after nasal obstruction. The diameter and cross-sectional area of the fast, IIa and IIb muscle fiber types were increased at 7 and 9 weeks after nasal obstruction, while only the diameter of IIa type and cross-sectional area of IIb type were increased at 5 weeks-old after nasal obstruction. Nasal obstruction during growth affects the whole genioglossus muscle contractile properties and histological characteristics, increasing its force, the diameter and area of its muscle fibers. These changes in the genioglossus muscle may affect the normal growth, development and function of the craniofacial complex.

References

Pereira T, Furlan R, Motta A . Relationship between mouth breathing etiology and maximum tongue pressure. Codas. 2019; 31(2):e20180099. DOI: 10.1590/2317-1782/20182018099. View

Kinirons S, Shall M, McClung J, Goldberg S . Effect of artificial rearing on the contractile properties and myosin heavy chain isoforms of developing rat tongue musculature. J Neurophysiol. 2003; 90(1):120-7. DOI: 10.1152/jn.00809.2002. View

Olson M, Junna M . Hypoglossal Nerve Stimulation Therapy for the Treatment of Obstructive Sleep Apnea. Neurotherapeutics. 2021; 18(1):91-99. PMC: 8116425. DOI: 10.1007/s13311-021-01012-x. View

Rodriguez-Alcala L, Martinez J, Baptista P, Fernandez R, Gomez F, Parejo Santaella J . Sensorimotor tongue evaluation and rehabilitation in patients with sleep-disordered breathing: a novel approach. J Oral Rehabil. 2021; 48(12):1363-1372. DOI: 10.1111/joor.13247. View

Bailey E, Huang Y, Fregosi R . Anatomic consequences of intrinsic tongue muscle activation. J Appl Physiol (1985). 2006; 101(5):1377-85. DOI: 10.1152/japplphysiol.00379.2006. View

Funaki Y, Hiranuma M, Shibata M, Kokai S, Ono T . Effects of nasal obstruction on maturation of the jaw-opening reflex in growing rats. Arch Oral Biol. 2014; 59(5):530-8. DOI: 10.1016/j.archoralbio.2014.02.013. View

Krekeler B, Weycker J, Connor N . Effects of Tongue Exercise Frequency on Tongue Muscle Biology and Swallowing Physiology in a Rat Model. Dysphagia. 2020; 35(6):918-934. PMC: 7483947. DOI: 10.1007/s00455-020-10105-2. View

Lowe A . The neural regulation of tongue movements. Prog Neurobiol. 1980; 15(4):295-344. DOI: 10.1016/0301-0082(80)90008-8. View

Chamberlin N, Eikermann M, Fassbender P, White D, Malhotra A . Genioglossus premotoneurons and the negative pressure reflex in rats. J Physiol. 2006; 579(Pt 2):515-26. PMC: 2075396. DOI: 10.1113/jphysiol.2006.121889. View

10.

Fregosi R . Influence of tongue muscle contraction and dynamic airway pressure on velopharyngeal volume in the rat. J Appl Physiol (1985). 2007; 104(3):682-93. DOI: 10.1152/japplphysiol.01043.2007. View

11.

Oliven A, Carmi N, Coleman R, Odeh M, Silbermann M . Age-related changes in upper airway muscles morphological and oxidative properties. Exp Gerontol. 2001; 36(10):1673-86. DOI: 10.1016/s0531-5565(01)00127-9. View

12.

Sutlive T, McClung J, Goldberg S . Whole-muscle and motor-unit contractile properties of the styloglossus muscle in rat. J Neurophysiol. 1999; 82(2):584-92. DOI: 10.1152/jn.1999.82.2.584. View

13.

Burke R, LeVine D, Tsairis P, Zajac 3rd F . Physiological types and histochemical profiles in motor units of the cat gastrocnemius. J Physiol. 1973; 234(3):723-48. PMC: 1350696. DOI: 10.1113/jphysiol.1973.sp010369. View

14.

Basheer B, Hegde K, Bhat S, Umar D, Baroudi K . Influence of mouth breathing on the dentofacial growth of children: a cephalometric study. J Int Oral Health. 2015; 6(6):50-5. PMC: 4295456. View

15.

Huang H, Zhang X, Ding N, Li Q, Min Y, Zhang X . Effects of chronic intermittent hypoxia on genioglossus in rats. Sleep Breath. 2011; 16(2):505-10. DOI: 10.1007/s11325-011-0532-y. View

16.

Schaser A, Wang H, Volz L, Connor N . Biochemistry of the anterior, medial, and posterior genioglossus in the aged rat. Dysphagia. 2010; 26(3):256-63. PMC: 2998581. DOI: 10.1007/s00455-010-9297-x. View

17.

Uchima Koecklin K, Kato C, Funaki Y, Hiranuma M, Ishida T, Fujita K . Effect of unilateral nasal obstruction on tongue protrusion forces in growing rats. J Appl Physiol (1985). 2015; 118(9):1128-35. DOI: 10.1152/japplphysiol.01152.2014. View

18.

Uchima Koecklin K, Hiranuma M, Kato C, Funaki Y, Kataguchi T, Yabushita T . Unilateral Nasal Obstruction during Later Growth Periods Affects Craniofacial Muscles in Rats. Front Physiol. 2017; 7:669. PMC: 5222814. DOI: 10.3389/fphys.2016.00669. View

19.

Nagai H, Russell J, Jackson M, Connor N . Effect of aging on tongue protrusion forces in rats. Dysphagia. 2007; 23(2):116-21. PMC: 2892880. DOI: 10.1007/s00455-007-9103-6. View

20.

Miller A . Electromyography of craniofacial musculature during oral respiration in the rhesus monkey (Macaca mulatta). Arch Oral Biol. 1978; 23(3):145-52. DOI: 10.1016/0003-9969(78)90210-8. View