Does Whole Body Vibration Restore Immobilization-Induced Suppression in AMPK Activation
Şenay Akın1
, Gürhan Dönmez2, Mustafa Özdemir1, Haydar A. Demirel1
1Exercise and Sport Physiology Department, Faculty of Sport Sciences, Hacettepe University, Ankara, Turkey
2Sports Medicine Department, Faculty of Medicine, Hacettepe University, Ankara, Turkey
Keywords: Whole body vibration, immobilization, casting, skeletal muscle, AMPK
Abstract
Objective: AMP activated kinase (AMPK) is involved in mitochondrial biogenesis, glucose transport and stimulates free fatty acid oxidation. Physical inactivity has been shown to increase incidence of metabolic diseases by decreasing the phosphorylation of AMPK. On the other hand, activation of AMPK via exercise training results in the reduction of insulin resistance. Currently, whole body vibration (WBV) is widely used to improve health, and has been proven to be effective to increase bone mineral density and muscle strength. Inactivity is inevitable especially during long-term bed rest or following sports injuries, and WBV may be an alternative strategy to improve muscle fitness and metabolic conditions. Therefore, this study aimed to elucidate the effects of WBV on AMPK, which plays an important role for cellular energy balance.
Materials and Methods: 30 Wistar rats were assigned to one of the following groups (n=6 per group): Control (C), Immobilization (I), Immobilization+Remobilization (İR), Immobilization+WBV (IV), WBV (V). Immobilization was obtained through two weeks of bilateral leg casting. V groups underwent one week of 45Hz, 3mm Amp, 20min/day WBV. Animals in IR group underwent one week of remobilization following immobilization and animals in IV group underwent one week of WBV treatment during remobilization period following the initial two weeks of immobilization. At the end of the experimental procedure, soleus muscles were isolated, and mRNA, AMPK and p-AMPK levels were determined.
Results: There were no differences in mRNA levels among groups. On the other hand, p-AMPK/AMPK ratio significantly decreased after two weeks of immobilization (p<0.05). Whole body vibration resulted in increased levels of p-AMPK/AMPK ratio in group IV compared with the immobilization only group (p<0.001).
Conclusions: With these findings we have shown for the first time that immobilization-induced decreases in AMPK activation could be restored by WBV application during a remobilization period. Therefore, WBV may play a role in preventing impairment of disuse induced metabolic functions.
Cite this article as: Akin S, Donmez G, Ozdemir M et al. Does whole body vibration restore immobilization-induced suppression in AMPK activation? Turk J Sports Med. 2018;53(4):174-81.
