The Impact of Frailty Syndrome on Skeletal Muscle Histology: Preventive Effects of Exercise

Abstract

Aging-induced frailty syndrome significantly impairs skeletal muscle health, yet its impact on muscle histology remains unclear. This study investigates the histological alterations in muscle associated with frailty syndrome and evaluates the preventive effects of exercise. Mice were divided into groups based on age and condition, including an exercised group. Evaluated variables include body weight, lean mass ratio, myofiber size and number, extracellular matrix (ECM) content, and myosin heavy chain isoforms. Findings indicate that frailty syndrome increases body weight and ECM content, while reducing myofiber size and number, highlighting its negative impact on skeletal muscle histology. Notably, exercise effectively mitigated these adverse changes, suggesting its potential role in preventing skeletal muscle dysfunction associated with frailty syndrome.