Recent Studies using an Overuse Animal Model Show that Signal Substances are Highly Involved in Muscle Derangement and Muscle Inflammation

摘要

Muscle overuse is a frequent condition accompanying sports-related activities. There is a lack of knowledge concerning the importance of signal substances in situations when overuse leads to markedly affected muscle structure and muscle inflammation. Recent observations on signal substance systems for the muscle tissue in situations with muscle overuse, noted via the use of a rabbit model, are therefore here focused on. The signal substance systems are the tachykinin system, the TNF-alpha system and the glutamate system. The studies have shown that all three systems are involved in the myositis/muscle derangement processes that occur. A central finding is the notion that signal substances in all three systems become locally produced in the muscle tissue and that there is a marked presence of receptors for these in the inflammatory/affected muscle tissue. The relevance of the findings in relation to what is known for the systems and possibilities in treatment regimens are discussed. The findings suggest that signal substances, more than what has been previously considered, should be taken into consideration as factors of relevance in situations when overuse leads to structural derangement and muscle inflammation.