A noninvasive procedure to detect muscle weakness in the mdx mouse

摘要

AbstractThe forward pulling tension exerted by individual mice was measured nearly isometrically in a simple apparatus designed to determine whole body tension (WBT). WBT determinations on control (C57BI10/SnJ) and experimental (C57BI10‐mdx) mice indicate muscle weakness which lasts throughoout the lifespan of mdx mice. Direct muscle stimulation experiments in vivo also showed significant decreases in peak twitch and tetanic tensions in adult mdx muscle with no obvious alterations in twitch time course or in twitch: tetanus rations. We suggest that the noninvasive WBT procedure may be used to partially assess various therapies on this murine model of Duchenne muscular dystroph