Effects of Water-Soluble C60 Fullerenes on Rat Musculus Soleus Contraction Following Neurogenic Atrophy

Neurogenic atrophy is the most severe type of muscle atrophy. It can be caused by injury or disease of the nerve that connects to the muscle. Damage to the sciatic nerve (nervus ischiadicus) initiates molecular processes that lead to the transformation of muscle dysfunction into an atrophic state. Oxidative stress is one of the key factors that initiates skeletal muscle atrophy. Therefore, this study evaluates the effects of oral administration of water-soluble C60 fullerenes (daily dose: 1 mg/kg), as powerful antioxidants, on the contraction dynamics of the rat musculus soleus on days 15, 30, and 45 following neurogenic atrophy induced by transection of the nervus ischiadicus. Using biophysical (tensometric), biochemical, and histological analyses, we evaluated the biomechanical parameters of musculus soleus contraction (time of onset of muscle force response, integrated muscle power, maximum and minimum contraction forces), blood biochemical markers (concentrations of C-reactive protein, lactate, creatinine, and reduced glutathione, as well as superoxide dismutase and catalase activities), as well as histological and morphometric indicators of muscle damage in rats on days 15, 30, and 45 after injury induction. It was found that the use of water-soluble C60 fullerenes improves the contractile activity of the musculus soleus after neurogenic atrophy and has a time-dependent nature. Specifically, by day 45 of the experiment, the maximum therapeutic effect reached 23–35 ± 2% for the biomechanical parameters of muscle contraction, and the biochemical blood parameters have nearly approached the control values. Finally, histological analysis confirmed a significant reduction in signs of destruction in muscle fibers and the level of fibrosis in the musculus soleus. These findings suggest the potential application of water-soluble C60 fullerenes in the treatment of pathological conditions of the muscular system arising from peripheral nerve injury.