The role of nitric oxide during healing of trauma to the skeletal muscle

Abstract

Introduction: The role of NO in muscle injury is not clear.

Methods: We examined the involvement of the NO system in the development of muscle damage in an experimental model of crush injury. The animals were divided into four groups: (1) control (CO), (2) sham trauma, (3) trauma, (4) trauma + L -NAME, in two experimental phases, 24 h and 7 days after injury.

Results: Twenty-four hours post-trauma, the crushed muscle was characterized by an intense inflammatory reaction. These changes were accompanied by increased oxidative damage, increased cytokine mRNA transcription, NF-κB binding ability and TGF-β growth factor expression in the gastrocnemius muscle. Treatment with L: -NAME markedly decreased these histological and molecular abnormalities at 24 h. However, at 7 days post-trauma, increased collagen formation was observed in the L: -NAME group.

Discussion: These findings indicate that NO is involved in the balance between fibrosis and healing with regeneration.