The aim of this study was to use medium frequency Neuromuscular Electrical Stimulation (NMES) in femoral quadriceps muscle of dogs with induced muscular atrophy to evaluate the occurrence of mass gain in these muscles and to compare NMES in different periods of treatment. Eight dogs, weighing between 15 and 25kg, were randomly placed in two groups: GI (NMES for 30min), GII, (NMES for 60min). For the muscular atrophy induction, the right knee was immobilized for 30 days by the percutaneous transfixation type II method. NMES was carried out in the dogs of which groups, three times a week, in between 48h each session, in a period of 60 days. The parameters measured were: thigh perimetry, knee goniometry, creatine kinase (CK) enzyme activity and morphometry of the muscular fibers in transversal cuts of the vastus lateralis muscle, collected through a muscular biopsy. There was no significant difference regarding the values of thigh perimetry and CK enzyme activity. The goniometry presented a significant increase (P<0.05) in the groups GI and GII at 30 days from the surgical procedure for immobilization when compared with time zero. In the vastus lateralis fibers morphometry, a significant increase (P<0.05) was observed in the transversal area of the treated groups GI e GII at 90 days from the surgical procedure for immobilization when compared with time zero. Thus, it can be concluded that NMES of medium frequency causes hypertrophy of the vastus lateralis muscle in dogs after induced muscular atrophy. NMES for 60min (GII) presents a greater muscular gain related to the GI.
dog; immobilization; biopsy; NMES
