Protective effect of indomethacin against exercise-induced injuries in mouse skeletal muscle fibers.

The role of prostaglandin synthesis was evaluated by indomethacin administration in the pathogenesis of exercise-induced muscle fiber injuries in soleus and quadriceps femoris muscles of mice. The administration of indomethacin before, during, and after 9 h exertion (s.c., 6 mg/kg during and just after exertion and 1.5-3 mg/kg before exertion and later twice a day) caused a significant histologic protection against exercise injuries and considerably reduced the exercise responses of beta-glucuronidase and glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase activities (enzymatic indicators of necrotic lesions in skeletal muscles) on the 2nd post-exercise day. The administration of indomethacin before and during the exertion (3 and 10 mg/kg, respectively) but not after exertion caused only a slight histologic protection while the enzymatic indicators showed a nonsignificant effect.