Effects of sympathetic denervation on the functional capacity of skeletal muscle in ovariectomized female mice

• Grant number: 24/17803-3
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships in Brazil - Scientific Initiation
• Start date: February 01, 2025
• End date: January 31, 2026
• Field of knowledge: Biological Sciences - Physiology - Physiology of Organs and Systems
• Principal Investigator: João Paulo Gabriel Camporez
• Grantee: Ian Martins Figueiredo
• Host Institution: Faculdade de Medicina de Ribeirão Preto (FMRP). Universidade de São Paulo (USP). Ribeirão Preto , SP, Brazil

Abstract

The menopause is characterized by the end of a woman's reproductive capacity caused by a reduction in the secretion of ovarian hormones, which can trigger serious illnesses. Sarcopenia is a condition typical of the ageing process, characterized by a reduction in muscle mass and quality, which is determined by hormonal changes, among other mechanisms. In addition, there is a loss of muscle mass and skeletal muscle function in menopausal women. Skeletal muscle makes up 30 to 40% of body mass and is a tissue with great plasticity and contractile structure. Thus, the skeletal muscle cell or fibre has mitochondria in varying quantities, which characterize muscle fibres as type I (oxidative/slow) and type II (glycolytic/fast). This tissue plays a fundamental role in general health, as its impact on the body can influence the development of problems that affect quality of life. It is therefore of fundamental importance to understand the mechanisms related to maintaining muscle mass, especially in relation to protein synthesis and degradation, as this balance is essential for disease prevention. With this in mind, this study aims to investigate the effects of sympathetic denervation as a model of muscle atrophy in ovariectomized female mice.