RNA-seq data of soleus muscle tissue after spinal cord injury under conditions of inactivity and applied exercise

Data in brief, 2020 · DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.dib.2019.105056 · Published: December 31, 2019

Spinal Cord Injury Neurology Bioinformatics

Simple Explanation

This study focuses on the transcriptomic changes in the rat soleus muscle after spinal cord injury (SCI). It investigates how different levels of injury severity and types of exercise (swimming or shallow water walking) affect these changes under restricted activity conditions. The data reveals the impact of SCI on muscle morphology, metabolism, and contractile properties, as well as the potential benefits of exercise in reducing muscle wasting and secondary complications. The raw data and gene expression tracks are available for researchers to explore gene expression patterns related to SCI and exercise rehabilitation.

Study Duration

8.5, 11.5, or 13.5 weeks

Participants

20 female Sprague Dawley rats

Evidence Level

Not specified

Key Findings

1
The sequenced data demonstrates good quality with a high alignment rate to the Rattus norvegicus reference assembly (Rn6).
2
Exercise post-SCI, whether swimming or shallow water walking, influences transcriptomic changes in the soleus muscle.
3
The study identifies highly expressed genes within specific Gene Ontology categories, such as response to oxidative stress and hypoxia, providing insights into the molecular effects of exercise.

Research Summary

This data article describes RNA sequencing data for detecting chronic transcriptomic changes in the rat soleus after SCI at two levels of injury severity, under conditions of restricted in-cage activity and two methods of applied exercise, swimming or shallow water walking. The raw data, along with UCSC Genome Browser tracks created to facilitate exploration of gene expression, are available in the NCBI Gene Expression Omnibus (GEO; GSE129694). The study also found that in injured, unexercised animals, Type IIa muscle fibers dominate, suggesting a muscle fiber transition from slow to fast.

Practical Implications

Understanding Molecular Response to SCI

Researchers can use this data to understand the molecular response to SCI associated with prolonged inactivity and post-SCI exercise rehabilitation.

Insight into Exercise Mechanisms

Transcriptomic changes associated with response to oxidative stress and hypoxia provide molecular insight into the effects of exercise.

Potential Therapeutic Targets

This information will allow researchers to manipulate and study the expression of specific genes in hindlimb muscles such as the soleus.

Study Limitations

1
The study uses female rats, which may limit the generalizability of the findings to males.
2
Tissue collection occurred at different time points post-SCI depending on the experimental group, which could introduce variability.
3
The study focuses on the soleus muscle, and findings may not be generalizable to other muscles.

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