Effect of dexmedetomidine on tourniquet-induced skeletal muscle injury

OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study was to investigate whether dexmedetomidine could reduce tourniquet-induced skeletal muscle injury.METHODS: C57BL6 male mice were randomly assigned to sham, ischemia/reperfusion, and dexmedetomidine groups. Mice in the ischemia/ reperfusion and dexmedetomidine groups received normal saline solution and dexmedetomidine intraperitoneally, respectively. The sham group underwent the same procedure as the ischemia/reperfusion group, with the exception of tourniquet application. Subsequently, the ultrastructure of the gastrocnemius muscle was observed, and its contractile force was examined. In addition, Toll-like receptor 4 and nuclear factor-KB expression within muscles was detected by Western blot.RESULTS: Dexmedetomidine alleviated myocyte damage and increased the contractility of skeletal muscles. Moreover, dexmedetomidine significantly inhibited the expression of Toll-like receptor 4/nuclear factor-KB in the gastrocnemius muscle.CONCLUSION: Taken together, these results demonstrate that dexmedetomidine administration attenuated tourniquet-induced structural and functional impairment of the skeletal muscle, partly through inactivation of the Toll-like receptor 4/nuclear factor-KB pathway.