Effect of a preparation of branched-chain amino acids on the regeneration of the anterior tibial muscle after compression injury

Introduction Histological data on the effect of intramuscular administration of branched-chain amino acids (BCAA) on muscle recovery are lacking.

The purpose of the work was a histomorphometric assessment of the effect of intramuscular administration of BCAA in a dosage for injections on the regeneration of the anterior tibial muscle (ATM) after its closed partial crushing in rats.

Materials and methods Compression of the ATM was performed for one minute in 48 male Wistar rats. After 24 hours, animals of series 1 received a single injection of saline into the ATM, while animals of series 2 received BCAA. Euthanasia was performed after 7, 14, 28, and 42 days. In paraffin section images, the volumetric densities of muscle fibers (MF) (V_Vm), microvessels (V_Vmv), and endomysium (V_Vе) were determined; MF diameters were measured, the numerical densities of MF (Na_m), microvessels (Na_mv), and intramuscular nuclei (Na_n) were determined, and the vascularization (kv as Na_mv/Na_m) and nucleation (kn as Na_n/ Na_m) coefficients were calculated. Ten intact rats were a control group.

Results After seven days, VVm in both series decreased by 36–37 %; in the rest of the periods, the indicator was significantly higher in series 2, but remained below normal in both groups. Within 28 days, the MF diameter was higher in series 2. After seven, 14 and 28 days, the indicator exceeded the values of series 1 by 17 % (p = 0.026), 11 % (p = 0.012) and 5 % (p = 0.048); after 28 days in series 1 and 2 it was 79 % and 84 % of the norm. The kn indicator in series 2 was lower than normal only after seven days of experiment, and in series 1 after seven, 14 and 42 days by 24 % (p = 0.002), 24 % (p = 0.004) and 10 % (p = 0.034), that indicates less active myogenesis. The kv indicator after 14 and 28 days was higher in series 2 by 10 % (p = 0.045) and 32 % (p = 0.014). On the 42^nd day in series 2, the MF diameter decreased against the increase in their Nam and was 47 % lower than the norm (p = 0.0006) and 30 % lower than in series 1 (p = 0.0023).

Discussion The findings obtained suggest that a BCAA injection has a positive effect on the MF regeneration and microvessels, and was more active than in series 1.

Conclusion A single BCAA injection has a myogenic stimulating effect. Further studies on side effects and long-term outcomes are needed.

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