Document Type

Honors Thesis

Abstract

Muscle trauma requires prompt recovery mechanisms, particularly in locations lacking specialized medical facilities. Hyperbaric oxygen (HBO2) therapy at 2.5 atmospheres absolute (ATA) positively impacts muscle recovery but necessitates specialized facilities. This study assessed the effectiveness of HBO2 therapy at a more accessible pressure level, 1.5 ATA, on muscle regeneration. Crush-injured muscle of 11 male and 8 female C57BL/6 mice were treated with mild HBO2 (100% oxygen at 1.5 ATA) or hyperoxia (100% oxygen at room atmospheric pressure). Regenerating myofiber properties were examined at 4- and 8-days post-injury, including the expression of a myosin-specific protein, developmental myosin heavy chain, myofiber cross-sectional area, and the overall regenerating myofiber count. The results were a higher proportion of smaller regenerating myofibers in mice treated with HBO2 compared to mice treated with 100% oxygen and a difference in the expression of developmental myosin heavy chain protein expression in regenerating myofibers between male and female mice treated with HBO2. These findings highlight the potential of HBO2 therapy at 1.5 ATA in accelerating muscle regeneration, offering a practical solution for non-specialized settings.

Disciplines

Analytical, Diagnostic and Therapeutic Techniques and Equipment | Medicine and Health Sciences | Nursing | Rehabilitation and Therapy

Publication Date

5-2024

Language

English

Faculty Mentor of Honors Project

Barbara St. Pierre Schneider

Comments

I would like to thank Dr. Barbara St. Pierre Schneider for the opportunity to work in her lab and for her mentorship throughout my research at The University of Texas at Arlington. Dr. Angi Zhang's guidance and expertise in laboratory techniques were instrumental in the success of this study.

I am also grateful to the Honors College for their support, allowing me to present this research at the National Conference on Undergraduate Research (NCUR) in California, where I had the privilege of sharing our findings on a national platform.

Furthermore, I am deeply appreciative of my family and loved ones for their unwavering support, encouragement, and love throughout this journey. All glory to God for His blessings, guidance, and grace that have provided me with the opportunities to achieve this significant milestone.

License

Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.

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