Journal of Otolaryngology and Ophthalmology of Shandong University ›› 2026, Vol. 40 ›› Issue (2): 44-48.doi: 10.6040/j.issn.1673-3770.0.2024.673

• Original Article • Previous Articles     Next Articles

The effects of chronic intermittent hypoxia on the styloglossus muscle in rats and its mechanism of action

JI Rui1, LIU Yajie2, WANG Jiaqi1, SHI Yawen1, ZHANG Weiming3, YIN Min1   

  1. 1. Department of Otorhinolaryngology, The First Affiliated Hospital, Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing 210029, Jiangsu, China2. Department of Otorhinolaryngology, Huaian First People's Hospital, Nanjing Medical University, Huaian 223300, Jiangsu, China3. Department of Pathology, The First Affiliated Hospital, Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing 210029, Jiangsu, China
  • Published:2026-03-26

Abstract: Objective To investigate the effects of chronic intermittent hypoxia(CIH)on the morphological structure and expression of contraction-related proteins in the styloglossus muscle of rats, and to analyze the regulatory role of serotonin(5-hydroxytryptamine, 5-HT)in this process. Methods Thirty male Sprague Dawley(SD)rats were randomly divided into a normoxic control group and a CIH group, which was further subdivided into 3-week(3wCIH), 5-week(5wCIH), and 8-week(8wCIH)exposure groups. At the respective time points, styloglossus muscle tissues were collected, hematoxylin-eosin(HE)staining was used to observe their morphological structure, and immunohistochemistry was employed to detect the protein expression levels of 5-HT, 5-HT 2A receptor, ryanodine receptor(RYR), and sarcoplasmic reticulum Ca2+-transporting ATPase(SERCA). Results Compared with the control group, the rats in each CIH group exhibited morphological changes in the styloglossus muscle, such as disordered muscle fiber arrangement, increased spacing, and chaotic distribution of cell nuclei, with the severity of damage increasing with prolonged hypoxia. Immunohistochemical results showed that compared with the control group, the expression of 5-HT(P<0.01)and 5-HT 2A receptor(P<0.05)was upregulated in the 3wCIH group, and was higher than that in the 5wCIH and 8wCIH groups, with statistically significant differences(P<0.001). The expression of RYR in each CIH group(3wCIH, 5wCIH, 8wCIH)showed a continuous downward trend over time, with statistically significant differences(P<0.05). The expression of SERCA decreased in the 5wCIH and 8wCIH groups, with statistically significant differences(P<0.01), showing an overall time-dependent downward trend. Conclusion Long-term CIH can lead to structural damage to the styloglossus muscle, accompanied by the failure of the compensatory mechanism regulated by 5-HTergic nerves and downregulation of calcium-regulatory protein expression, ultimately causing impaired contraction function.

Key words: Chronic intermittent hypoxia, Styloglossus muscle, 5-hydroxytryptamine

CLC Number: 

  • R76
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