Murphy ER, Thompson R, Osman KL, Haxton C, Brothers M, Lee L, Warncke K, Smith CL, Keilholz AN, Hamad A, Golzy M, Bunyak F, Ma L, Nichols NL, Lever TE (2022) A strength endurance exercise paradigm mitigates deficits in hypoglossal-tongue axis function, strength, and structure in a rodent model of hypoglossal motor neuron degeneration. Front Neurosci 16:869592. doi: 10.3389/fnins.2022.869592 PMID: 35844238
Objective: To investigate the effect of high-repetition/low-resistance tongue exercise on tongue function, strength, and structure.
Summary: The tongue plays a crucial role in swallowing and impairment can lead to dysphagia, particularly in motor neuron diseases such as amyotrophic lateral sclerosis. This study utilized the authors previously established inducible rodent model of dysphagia due to targeted degeneration of the hypoglossal-tongue axis by injecting cholera toxin B conjugated to saporin (CTB-SAP) into the genioglossus muscle of the tongue base for retrograde transport to the hypoglossal (XII) nucleus via the hypoglossal nerve, which provides the sole motor control of the tongue. Results showed that sham-exercised CTB-SAP rats had significant deficits in lick rate, swallow timing, and lick force. In exercised CTB-SAP rats, lick rate and lick force were preserved; however, swallow timing deficits persisted.
Usage: Rats received either a single “control” injection of unconjugated CTB + SAP (20μg CTB+25μg SAP) or CTB-SAP (Cat. #IT-14) injection (25μg of CTB conjugated to SAP) into the midline genioglossus muscle in the tongue base.
Related Products: CTB-SAP (Cat. #IT-14), Saporin (Cat. #PR-01)