Academic Geriatric Medicine, University of Southampton, Southampton General Hospital, Southampton, UK.
BMC Geriatr. 2010 Jun 29;10:43. doi: 10.1186/1471-2318-10-43.
Sarcopenia is defined as the loss of muscle mass and strength with age. Although a number of adult influences are recognised, there remains considerable unexplained variation in muscle mass and strength between older individuals. This has focused attention on influences operating earlier in life. Our objective for this study was to identify life course influences on muscle mass and strength in an established birth cohort and develop methodology for collection of muscle tissue suitable to investigate underlying cellular and molecular mechanisms.
One hundred and five men from the Hertfordshire Cohort Study (HCS), born between 1931 and 1939 who have historical records of birth weight and weight at one year took part in the Hertfordshire Sarcopenia Study (HSS). Each participant consented for detailed characterisation of muscle mass, muscle function and aerobic capacity. In addition, a muscle biopsy of the vastus lateralis using a Weil-Blakesley conchotome was performed. Data on muscle mass, function and aerobic capacity was collected on all 105 participants. Muscle biopsy was successfully carried out in 102 participants with high rates of acceptability. No adverse incidents occurred during the study.
The novel approach of combining epidemiological and basic science characterisation of muscle in a well established birth cohort will allow the investigation of cellular and molecular mechanisms underlying life course influences on sarcopenia.
肌少症是指随着年龄增长而出现的肌肉质量和力量的损失。尽管已经认识到许多成人因素的影响，但在老年人之间，肌肉质量和力量仍然存在很大程度的无法解释的差异。这使得人们关注生命早期的影响因素。我们这项研究的目的是在一个既定的出生队列中确定生命历程对肌肉质量和力量的影响，并开发适合研究潜在细胞和分子机制的肌肉组织采集方法。
105 名来自赫特福德郡队列研究（HCS）的男性参加了赫特福德郡肌少症研究（HSS），他们出生于 1931 年至 1939 年之间，出生体重和一岁时的体重均有历史记录。每位参与者都同意对肌肉质量、肌肉功能和有氧能力进行详细描述。此外，使用 Weil-Blakesley 海螺刀对股外侧肌进行了肌肉活检。所有 105 名参与者均收集了肌肉质量、功能和有氧能力的数据。在 102 名参与者中成功进行了肌肉活检，接受率很高。研究过程中没有发生不良事件。
在一个成熟的出生队列中，结合流行病学和基础科学对肌肉进行特征描述的新方法，将能够研究生命历程对肌少症影响的细胞和分子机制。
