Résumé :
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AIM: Since it was previously reported that pentadecapeptide BPC 157, applied without a carrier, improved the healing of transected quadriceps muscle, as well as muscle healing in rats with muscle crush injury, we believe it could also be an effective treatment for denervated muscles. METHODS: The left opturatorius nerve of Wistar Albino rats was transected through opturatorius canal. Animals received either 10 ug/kg of BPC 157 (GEPPPGKPADDAGLV, M.W. 1419, manufactured by Diagen, Ljubljana, Slovenia) or 5 ml/kg of 0.9% NaCl, intraperitoneally every day. Functional evaluation (muscle function index and walking pattern) and physical examination of hind limbs were performed every month. After 1 year animals were sacrificed, muscles gracilis were isolated and weighted, followed by patohistological and morphometrical analyses using ISSA software (Vamstec, Croatia).. RESULTS: One year after m. gracilis denervation measurements showed difference in muscle function index values, being statistically better in BPC 157 treated animals (p<0.05), as well as higher muscle weight in the latter group (p<0,017 vs controls), and without statistical difference of those parameters in comparison of BPC treated animals and healthy animals. BPC 157 treated animals demonstrated practically no difference in muscle fibers diameters compared to healthy animals, while control group revealed significantly shorter diameter, being only 70% of healthy animals values. Besides, cross sections of control muscles revealed many smaller muscle fibers with centralized nuclei, while morphologically there were also no significant difference between BPC 157 treated animals and healthy ones. CONCLUSION: Pentadecapeptide BPC 157 prevented muscle atrophy and preserved muscle function after denervation.
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