Effects of Exercise on Neuromuscular Junction Morphology and Spinal Cord Motor Neurons Cells in Old Age

2014 Fiscal Year Final Research Report

• Project/Area Number: 24500806
• Research Category: Grant-in-Aid for Scientific Research (C)
• Allocation Type: Multi-year Fund
• Section: 一般
• Research Field: Sports science
• Research Institution: Shigakkan University Junior College
• Principal Investigator: NISHIZAWA TOMIE 至学館大学短期大学部, その他部局等, 准教授 (30283980)
• Co-Investigator(Kenkyū-buntansha): KASUGA Norikatsu 愛知教育大学, 教育学部, 教授 (60152659)
• Project Period (FY): 2012-04-01 – 2015-03-31
• Keywords: 老齢期 / 運動 / 神経筋接合部形態 / 脊髄運動神経細胞 / 筋線維 / 筋力

Outline of Final Research Achievements

There is a report that the morphological changes in the cell bodies of motor neurons in the spinal cord (MNsoma) and the muscle fibers they innervate are the factor of decreasing muscle strength in old age.
This study is an attempt to investigate how the exercise in old age influences the neuromuscular junction (NMJ) form and the muscle function.
The results suggest that the decrease of muscle strength in old age causes atrophy of muscle fibers and degeneration of the NMJ. However, exercising suppresses degenerative changes in the muscle fibers, the NMJ and loss in muscle strength. No significant change was observed in the MNsoma. The subsequent changes such as atrophy and degeneration in the MNsoma are inferred later on. In our understanding, the muscle fibers and NMJ forms have high plasticity and the MNsoma has high homeostasis.

Free Research Field

運動生理学