Testosterone (T) has an anabolic effect on skeletal muscle and is believed to exert its local effects via the androgen receptor (AR). The AR harbors a polymorphic stretch of glutamine repeats demonstrated to inversely affect receptor transcriptional activity in prostate and kidney cells. The effects of AR glutamine repeat length on skeletal muscle are unknown. In this study we examined the effect of AR CAG repeat length on AR function in C2C12 cells. AR expression vectors harboring 14, 24, and 33 CAG repeats were used to assess AR transcriptional activity. C2C12 cell proliferation, differentiation, gene expression, myotube formation, and myonuclear fusion index were assessed. Transcriptional activity increased with increasing repeat length and in response to testosterone (AR14 = 3.91 ± 0.26, AR24 = 25.21 ± 1.72, AR33 = 36.08 ± 3.22 relative light units; P < 0.001). Ligand activation was increased for AR33 (2.10 ± 0.04) compared with AR14 (1.54 ± 0.09) and AR24 (1.57 ± 0.05, P < 0.001). AR mRNA expression was elevated in each stably transfected line. AR33 cell proliferation (20,512.3 ± 1,024.0) was decreased vs. AR14 (27,604.17 ± 1,425.3; P < 0.001) after 72 h. Decreased CK activity in AR14 cells (54.9 ± 2.9 units/μg protein) in comparison to AR33 (70.8 ± 8.1) (P < 0.05) was noted. The myonuclear fusion index was lower for AR14 (15.21 ± 3.24%) and AR33 (9.97 ± 3.14%) in comparison to WT (35.07 ± 5.60%, P < 0.001). AR14 and AR33 cells also displayed atypical myotube morphology. RT-PCR revealed genotype differences in myostatin and myogenin expression. We conclude that AR polyglutamine repeat length is directly associated with transcriptional activity and alters the growth and development of C2C12 cells. This polymorphism may contribute to the heritability of muscle mass in humans.

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We conclude that DDFPe is not an effective nonrecompressive treatment for DCS in rodents. Sheppard RL, Regis DP, Mahon RT. Dodecafluoropentane (DDFPe) and decompression sickness-related mortality in rats.

Introduction: Individuals with a known susceptibility to high altitude pulmonary edema (HAPE) demonstrate a reduced ventilation response and increased pulmonary vasoconstriction when exposed to hypoxia. It is unknown whether reduced sensitivity to hypercapnia is correlated with increased incidence and/or severity of HAPE, and while acute exercise at altitude is known to exacerbate symptoms the effect of exercise training on HAPE susceptibility is unclear.Purpose: To determine if chronic intermittent hypercapnia and exercise increases the incidence of HAPE in rats.Methods: Male Wistar rats were randomized to sedentary (sed-air), CO2 (sed-CO2,) exercise (ex-air), or exercise + CO2 (ex-CO2) groups. CO2 (3.5%) and treadmill exercise (15 m/min, 10% grade) were conducted on a metabolic treadmill, 1 h/day for 4 weeks. Vascular reactivity to CO2 was assessed after the training period by rheoencephalography (REG). Following the training period, animals were exposed to hypobaric hypoxia (HH) equivalent to 25,000 ft for 24 h. Pulmonary injury was assessed by wet/dry weight ratio, lung vascular permeability, bronchoalveolar lavage (BAL), and histology.Results: HH increased lung wet/dry ratio (HH 5.51 ± 0.29 vs. sham 4.80 ± 0.11, P < 0.05), lung permeability (556 ± 84 u/L vs. 192 ± 29 u/L, P < 0.001), and BAL protein (221 ± 33 μg/ml vs. 114 ± 13 μg/ml, P < 0.001), white blood cell (1.16 ± 0.26 vs. 0.66 ± 0.06, P < 0.05), and platelet (16.4 ± 2.3, vs. 6.0 ± 0.5, P < 0.001) counts in comparison to normobaric normoxia. Vascular reactivity was suppressed by exercise (−53% vs. sham, P < 0.05) and exercise+CO2 (−71% vs. sham, P < 0.05). However, neither exercise nor intermittent hypercapnia altered HH-induced changes in lung wet/dry weight, BAL protein and cellular infiltration, or pulmonary histology.Conclusion: Exercise training attenuates vascular reactivity to CO2 in rats but neither exercise training nor chronic intermittent hypercapnia affect HH- induced pulmonary edema.

Measuring brain electrical impedance (rheoencephalography) is a potential technique for noninvasive, continuous neuro-monitoring of cerebral blood flow autoregulation in humans. In the present rat study, we compared changes in cerebral blood flow autoregulation during CO2 inhalation measured by rheoencephalography to changes measured by laser Doppler flowmetry, an invasive continuous monitoring modality. Our hypothesis was that both modalities would reflect cerebral blood flow autoregulation. Male Sprague-Dawley rats (n=28; 28 control and 82 CO2 challenges) were measured under anesthesia. The surgical preparation involved implantation of intracerebral REG electrodes and an LDF probe into the brain. Analog waveforms were stored in a computer. CO2 inhalation caused transient, simultaneous increases in the signals of both laser Doppler flow (171.99 ± 46.68 %) and rheoencephalography (329.88 ± 175.50%). These results showed a correlation between the two measured modalities; the area under the receiver operating characteristic curve was 0.8394. The similar results obtained by measurements made with laser Doppler flowmetry and rheoencephalography indicate that rheo-encephalography, like laser Doppler flowmetry, reflects cerebral blood flow autoregulation. Rheoencephalography therefore shows potential for use as a continuous neuro-monitoring technique.