The effect of high intensity interval training on muscle contractile function 8 weeks following chemically-induced ovarian failure
Authors: Mashouri Parastoo , Hinks Avery , Dalton Benjamin E. , Flewwelling Luke D. , Pyle W. Glen , Cheng Arthur J. , Power Geoffrey A. 
Published: May 2024

The negative effects of ovariectomy on muscle contractile function have been well-characterized, however, the effects of gradual ovarian failure (i.e., perimenopausal transition into late-stage menopause) on muscle function over the lifespan have received less attention. Furthermore, whether exercise training can mitigate changes in muscle contractile function associated with menopause is unclear. The objective of this study, using a chemically-induced ovarian failure mouse model (4-vinylcyclohexene diepoxide; VCD), was to investigate time-course changes in muscle contractility of sedentary controls and the potential of high intensity interval training to mitigate any deleterious effects of ovarian failure. Starting at 11wks old, mice were injected with 160mg/kg/day of VCD for 15 days. Twenty-eight (VCD-trained: n=10, VCD-sedentary: n=10, control: n=8) CD1 female mice were used in this study, with the VCD-trained group beginning training at the onset of ovarian failure for a total of 8 weeks. Contractile properties of the plantar flexors were assessed using an in-vivo set-up 8 weeks following the onset of ovarian failure. As well, a fatigue task (repeated maximal isometric contractions until torque decreased by 60%) was performed. Recovery was measured immediately after, and up to 10min following task termination. Upon completion of mechanical testing, mice were sacrificed and intact muscle fibres were isolated from the flexor digitorum brevis, and myoplasmic free Ca2+ (tetanic [Ca2+]i) concentrations were measured across stimulation frequencies of 10-200 Hz and throughout 50 tetanic contractions (70Hz) to replicate our fatigue task. There was no difference in pre-fatigue values across groups for peak twitch torque, peak 100Hz torque, RTD, 10:100Hz torque, tetanic [Ca2+]i during low (10Hz) and high Hz (100Hz) stimulation, and all were reduced similarly immediately following the fatigue task. Repetitions to task failure was similar across groups and tetanic [Ca2+]i during repetitive contractions (n=50) was reduced similarly across groups. As well, all groups recovered similarly across these measures. Torque and RTD did not recover fully by 10min for either measure, while 10Hz, 100Hz and 10:100Hz tetanic [Ca2+]i was recovered immediately following the fatigue task. Given 10Hz torque was relatively maintained following the fatigue task, and there was a ~40% decline in 100Hz torque, the 10:100Hz ratio increased throughout recovery — this, combined with the [Ca2+] data indicate that calcium sensitivity and release are unlikely contributors to impaired force production following the fatigue task across groups. The present study aimed to assess the impact of training on muscle contractility using a mouse model of gradual ovarian failure. Unlike other models of ovarian failure, there does not seem to be any impairment in muscular performance at the joint level in our VCD-mice, and they responded similarly across groups in response to repetitive fatiguing contractions and exercise training.

Supported by NSERC.

This is the full abstract presented at the American Physiology Summit 2024 meeting and is only available in HTML format. There are no additional versions or additional content available for this abstract. Physiology was not involved in the peer review process.