Bone Density and Mechanical Properties in Femoral Bone of Swim Loaded Aged Mice

Effects of swirnming on bone density and mechanical properties of femur were investigated in aged male and female mice. R/1 strain of senescence accelerated mouse (SAM) at eleven months old was used. Two groups of males and two groups of females each consisting of 7 mice were used. One male and one female groups were loaded with a swim regiment of 40 min a day, 5 days a week for 6 consecutive weeks. The remaining groups were used as the controls. All mice were fed with the standard diet and water ad libitum during the experiments.The results of this study indicated that (i) the hady weight was significantly (P<0.05) lower in the swimming groups than in the control groups in boh sexes. (ii) The bone density was significantly higher (P <0.05) in the swimming groups than in the control groups in boh sexes. However, there was no sighficant difference in cortical thickness index. (iii) In the mechanical properties of bone, there were no significant differences in the level of the maximum breaking force, the ultimate stress and the deformation between the swimndng and the contro groups in beth sexes. However, the elasticity of the bone of the female hoce in the swimming group was significantly higher (P<0.05) than that of the control group.These results suggest that regimented swimming for the aged mice might suppress age-associated bone loss, and the effect of exercise in the females is greater that in the males.

Influence of Electroacupuncture at Acupoints Zusanli(ST 36)and Taichong(LR 3)with Different Frequencies on Rats Swimming Endurance

Objective： To observe the influence of electroacupuncture with different frequencies on rats swimming endurance and sift out the optimal frequency parameter. Methods： Wistar rats were randomly allocated to control group, non-acupoint group and electroacupuncture with low frequency group （EA with 2 Hz group）, electroacupuncture with medium frequency group （EA with 15 Hz group）, and electroacupuncture with high frequency group （EA with 100 Hz group）, acupoints Zusanli （ST 36） and Taichong （LR 3） were punctured and rats load swimming time was used as an index, and the change of swimming endurance time before and after acupuncture was observed. Results： After electro-acupuncture, swimming time was increased in 15 Hz and 100 Hz groups respectively, with the significant differences between before and after acupuncture （P〈0.05）. There was also a significant difference in the percentage of increase in swimming time between 15 Hz group and other groups （P〈0.05）. Conclusion： It is suggested that electroacupuncture at acupoints Zusanli （ST 36） and Taichong （LR 3） with a frequency of 15 Hz could enhance rats＇s swimming endurance, and 15 Hz might be an optimal frequency parameter during the electrical stimulation.

Anti-Acute Fatigue Effects of Ethanol Extract of Bidens pilosa L.and the Profiling of Antioxidant Index in ICR Mice

The effects of ethanol extract of Bidens pilosa L.(EEB)on acute exercise fatigue and its underlying biochemical mechanism were investigated in this study.Sixty adult male ICR mice were divided into control,model,vitamin C(VC)100,EEB40,EEB80,and EEB160 groups,receiving VC(100 mg/kg)or EEB(40,80,160 mg/kg)for 28 days(intragastrically,I.G.).The mice underwent tailsuspension,elevated plus maze(EPM),rotarod,and loaded swimming tasks and biochemical indices were measured.There were no significant differences in body weight,tail suspension time,EPM open arm time/entries and serum cortisone levels among the groups.Compared with the model group,there was an increase in rotarod latency in the VC100/EEB80 groups and an increase in loaded swimming time in the EEB80/EEB160 groups.Furthermore,the haptic and muscle glycogen levels decreased in the model group,while the haptic glycogen levels increased in the all VC/EEB groups.Similarly,the serum lactate and creatinine levels increased in the model group,but decreased in lactate(except for EEB160),creatinine(except for EEB40)and lactate dehydrogenase in the EEB80 group.In the liver,malonaldehyde(MDA)and oxidized glutathione(GSSG)levels increased in the model group;however,glutathione reductase(GR)(except for EEB40),glutathione(GSH)and GSH/GSSG ratios increased,with GSSG levels decreasing in all VC/EEB groups.In the quadriceps,the GR levels increased in the model,whereas it decreased in the VC100,EEB40 and EEB80 groups.These results suggest that EEB has anti-acute fatigue effect,potentially attributed to mitigate metabolite accumulation,enhancing glycogen reserves,and fortifying the antioxidant mechanism.

Anti-fatigue Effect of Renshen Yangrong Decoction(人参养荣汤) in Mice

Objective： To explore the anti-fatigue effect of Renshen Yangrong Decoction （人参养荣汤 RYD） in mice. Methods： One hundred Kunming mice were randomly divided into 5 groups with 20 mice in each group. The negative control group was treated with distilled water, the positive control group was treated with Shiyiwei Shenqi Tablet （十一味参芪片 1.0 g/kg）, the high-, medium- and low-dose RYD groups were treated with 42.0, 21.0 and 10.5 g/kg of RYD daily, respectively, by gastric infusion. At the end of the 7-day treatment, loaded swimming time, organ wet weight and coefficient, serum glucose, urea nitrogen, and hepatic glycogen levels were determined. The outcomes were compared among groups. Results： As compared with the negative control group, the loaded swimming time was significantly increased in the positive control group, specifically the medium- and high-dose RYD groups （P〈0.01）. In addition, the wet weights and coefficients of the spleen and thymus, and the serum glucose and hepatic glycogen contents were increased, whereas serum urea nitrogen level was significantly decreased in the positive control group and the high dose RYD group （P〈0.05 or P=〈0.01）. Conclusion： RYD showed an anti-fatigue effect in mice.