OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the action of estrogen on the glycogen profile of denervated skeletal muscle in female rats. METHODS: The animals were divided into six experimental groups (n=6): control; denervated for 15 days; denervated and treated with estrogen at a concentration of 20µg/weight/day; denervated and treated with estrogen at a concentration of 40µg/weight/day; denervated and treated with estrogen at a concentration of 80µg/weight/day; and denervated and treated with estrogen at a concentration of 160µg/weight/day. The animals were treated with estradiol cypionate for 15 days. The following analyses were carried out: glycogen content of the soleus, white gastrocnemius and red (mixed) gastrocnemius, by means of the phenol-sulfuric acid method as well as body weight and soleus muscle weight. The statistical analysis included ANOVA and the post-hoc Tukey test (p<0.05). RESULTS: The denervation induced a reduction in glycogen content in the soleus and the white and mixed gastrocnemius muscles. In contrast, there was a progressive elevation of glycogen content concomitant with dose elevation in the groups treated with estrogen, thereby reinstating the glycogen reserves. The most effective concentration was 160µg/weight/day, which showed the best chemometabolic responses and least weight loss. CONCLUSION: These results suggest that estrogen at the concentration of 160 µg/weight/day was the most efficient at minimizing metabolic impairment and that it may be an important pharmacological instrument for physical therapy practice during rehabilitation.
estrogen; denervation; muscle; physical therapy
