RealTimePCR investigations of MyHCs and myogenic factors in muscle remodeling induced by electrostimulation in young and elderly subjects.

Sarcopenia is a condition characterized by loss of mass and strength of skeletal muscle. Among the treatments capable to activate the plasticity of muscular tissue and contrast sarcopenia, there is the neuromuscular electrical stimulation (NMES). Only few studies have analyzed the effects of NMES on the functionality of muscle in elderly subjects in vivo; furthermore, no data are available regarding changes induced by NMES in single fibres dissociated from aged, sarcopenic muscle. Studying the effects and the mechanisms which are activated by NEMS will furnish indications in using these treatments in sarcopenic subjects, especially in the elderly not capable of voluntary exercise. The analysis of NEMS treatments could offer significant advantages in understanding if these protocols alone, or associated with voluntary training, might delay the sarcopenia in elderly people (D'Antona et al., 2003; Mafiuletti et al.,2006). The efficacy of the NMES protocol will be evaluated through the expression analysis of different MyHCs and of myogenic regulation factors that regulate muscle regeneration, studied at genomic level.