Back to results

Virginia Tech

Characterization of an in vitro exercise model and the effects of a metabolic endotoxemia on skeletal muscle adaptation to electric pulse stimulation

Abstract

dc:description.abstract

The prevalence of obesity and type II diabetes is increasing. Although exercise is widely accepted for prevention and treatment, evidence of resistance to exercise in patients with these diseases is also mounting. Muscle contraction during exercise stimulate cellular responses important for adaptation. These responses include the release of myokines and the subsequent increase in substrate metabolism. This study aimed to define a culture model for simulating exercise in human primary skeletal muscle cells. We hypothesized that chronic electric pulse stimulation (EPS) of human myotubes in vitro would emulate cellular and molecular responses to exercise observed in vivo. To define this model, we applied EPS to human myotubes for varied lengths of time and measured interleukin-6 (Il-6), peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor gamma coactivator 1- (PGC1-), superoxide dismutase 2 (SOD2), substrate metabolism, metabolic enzyme activity, heat stress markers, and pH. To recreate the inflammatory milieu observed in metabolic disease states we treated the myotubes with a low dose of 20 EU lipopolysaccharide (LPS). Following the 24-hour stimulation we observed significant increases in transcription of Il-6, PGC1-, and SOD2. Basal glucose and fatty acid oxidation were also markedly increased in the cells after EPS. Cells treated with LPS elicited a blunted transcriptional, metabolic, and enzymatic response to EPS. These findings suggest that EPS is a viable model for simulating the effects of exercise. Our observations also indicate that an inflammatory environment could play a role in interfering with the adaptations to exercise.

Degree

thesis:*
Name thesis:degree_name
Ph. D.
Level thesis:degree_level
doctoral
Discipline thesis:degree_discipline
Human Nutrition, Foods, and Exercise
Department dc:contributor.department
Human Nutrition, Foods, and Exercise
Grantor dc:publisher
Virginia Tech
Year dc:date.issued
2017

Author and committee

dc:creator, dc:contributor.*
Author dc:creator
  • Harvey, Mordecai Micah
Chair dc:contributor.committeechair
  • Hulver, Matthew W.
Committee members dc:contributor.committeemember
  • Frisard, Madlyn I.
  • Davy, Kevin P.
  • Grange, Robert W.
  • Li, Liwu

Subjects

dc:subject × 6

Rights

dc:rights
Statement dc:rights
  • In Copyright

Identifiers

dc:identifier.*
Dc Identifier Other
vt_gsexam:11829
OAI identifier oai:identifier
oai:vtechworks.lib.vt.edu:10919/78235

Chain of custody

source
Harvested from
Virginia Tech
Base URL
vtechworks.lib.vt.edu/oai/request
Last updated
2026-07-22
Source record
OAI-PMH GetRecord
citation

Harvey, Mordecai Micah. Characterization of an in vitro exercise model and the effects of a metabolic endotoxemia on skeletal muscle adaptation to electric pulse stimulation. doctoral thesis, Virginia Tech, 2017. http://hdl.handle.net/10919/78235