Mild Hypothermia Preserves Contractile Function and Inhibits Prostaglandin E₂ Release from Metabolically Stressed Skeletal Muscle

     Valerie A. Cwik, Ramanath Majumdar and Michael H. Brooke

Abstract:   An in vitro model of muscle damage was used to investigate the protective effect of mild hypothermia in muscle injury. Rat epitrochlearis muscles were dissected in their entirety and suspended in Krebs-Ringer solution and DNP, a mitochondrial uncoupler, was added. PGE₂ and lactate release and the contractile response to stimulation were measured and compared to untreated controls. Experiments were done at 37, 35, 33 and 27°C. At 37°C, DNP stimulated muscle releases large amounts of PGE₂ and lactate and is unable to contract. As the temperature is reduced, there is progressive preservation of contractile force, although high lactate levels at the lowest temperatures indicate that the metabolic stress is still present. In contrast, DNP stimulated PGE₂ release is completely inhibited at or below 35°C and may be related to a similar protective phenomenon seen in experimental ischemic neuronal death.

Can. J. Neurol. Sci. 1994; 21: 120-124