Locomotor Training with Adjuvant Testosterone Preserves Cancellous Bone and Promotes Muscle Plasticity in Male Rats after Severe Spinal Cord Injury

J Neurosci Res, 2020 · DOI: 10.1002/jnr.24564 · Published: May 1, 2020

Simple Explanation

This study investigates how treadmill training and testosterone affect muscle and bone recovery in rats after severe spinal cord injury (SCI). The study found that treadmill training alone didn't help much, but combining it with testosterone significantly improved bone and muscle health. The combination treatment also helped some rats regain the ability to walk, suggesting it could be a promising approach for SCI rehabilitation.

Study Duration

8 Weeks (Main Study)

Participants

Sprague-Dawley rats

Evidence Level

Not specified

Key Findings

1
Treadmill training alone did not improve bone, muscle, or locomotor recovery after severe SCI in rats.
2
Combined testosterone and treadmill training (TE+TM) provided more comprehensive musculoskeletal benefits than testosterone alone, including near-complete cancellous bone preservation and improved muscle function.
3
TE+TM resulted in a higher percentage of rats regaining voluntary over-ground hindlimb stepping ability compared to SCI and SCI+TE groups, suggesting a positive influence on locomotor recovery.

Research Summary

The study assessed the effects of treadmill training (TM) and testosterone-enanthate (TE) on musculoskeletal recovery in rats after severe spinal cord injury (SCI). Short-term TM alone did not improve bone, muscle, or locomotor recovery. However, longer-term TE+TM provided more comprehensive musculoskeletal benefit than TE-alone, preserving cancellous bone and promoting muscle plasticity. The combination of TE+TM also improved the rate of voluntary over-ground hindlimb stepping, suggesting that TE may have influenced locomotor recovery.

Practical Implications

Rehabilitation Strategies

The study suggests that regenerative rehabilitation strategies combining pharmacologic testosterone with bodyweight-supported treadmill training (TE+TM) produced more comprehensive muscle and bone recovery than TE alone

Clinical relevance

These results provide rationale for future studies intended to determine whether the aromatization of testosterone within the CNS or bone influences neuromuscular plasticity or bone preservation, respectively, and the molecular mechanisms underlying the improved musculoskeletal outcomes resulting from TE+TM.

Therapeutic Potential

Combining testosterone treatment with activity-based physical rehabilitation shows promise for enhancing musculoskeletal recovery after severe SCI.

Study Limitations

1
The study design did not allow for determination of the independent effects of TM on the outcomes reported in our main study.
2
The study only included male rodents, limiting the generalizability of the findings to females.
3
The musculoskeletal strain resulting from our TM protocol was not quantified, and it was not possible to quantify the amount of stepping necessary for bone and muscle improvement

Your Feedback

Was this summary helpful?

Back to Endocrinology