Scientists have found a way to protect the muscles of astronauts and bedridden patients from atrophy

Russian scientists from the Institute of Biomedical Problems of the Russian Academy of Sciences have taken an important step in the fight against muscular atrophy by developing a method that can help astronauts, people with limited mobility and the elderly. A study supported by the Russian Science Foundation has shown that the MOTS-c peptide, known as the "mobility hormone," is able to protect muscles from exhaustion during prolonged absence of physical exertion.

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During the experiment, the scientists injected the MOTS-c peptide into rats exposed to conditions simulating weightlessness for seven days. These animals did not receive any load on their hind limbs, which led to atrophy of the soleus muscles, which are responsible for walking.

In rats receiving injections of the "mobility hormone", the decrease in muscle volume was only 15-20% compared with 30-35% in the control group. In animals without treatment, muscle endurance also decreased by more than half, while in those receiving the peptide it remained at a normal level.

"The problem of fatigue and loss of muscle mass is relevant for all people with insufficient activity levels, which is almost a third of the adult population of the World," Kristina Sharlo, project manager, senior researcher at the Laboratory of Myology at the Institute of Biomedical Problems of the Russian Academy of Sciences, told Izvestia.

The scientists plan to investigate other factors that affect the structure and function of muscle tissue.

"In the next project, we will look at how the calcium content in muscles affects their endurance, as well as the functioning of muscle fibers and their components," said Christina Charlot.

Read more in the exclusive Izvestia article:

Instead of strength: "mobility hormone" will save astronauts from muscle atrophy