ABSTRACT
OBJECTIVE: To determine if a commercial myostatin reducer (Fortetropin®) would inhibit disuse muscle atrophy in dogs after a tibial plateau leveling osteotomy. DESIGN: A prospective randomized, double-blinded, placebo-controlled clinical trial. ANIMALS: One hundred client-owned dogs presenting for surgical correction of cranial cruciate ligament rupture by tibial plateau leveling osteotomy. PROCEDURES: Patients were randomly assigned into the Fortetropin® or placebo group and clients were instructed to add the assigned supplement to the dog's normal diet once daily for twelve weeks. Enrolled patients had ultrasound measurements of muscle thickness, tape measure measurements of thigh circumference, serum myostatin level assays, and static stance analysis evaluated at weeks 0, 8, and 12. RESULTS: From week 0 to week 8, there was no change for thigh circumference in the Fortetropin® group for the affected limb (-0.54cm, P = 0.31), but a significant decrease in thigh circumference for the placebo group (-1.21cm, P = 0.03). There was no significant change in serum myostatin levels of dogs in the Fortetropin® group at any time point (P>0.05), while there was a significant rise of serum myostatin levels of dogs in placebo group during the period of forced exercise restriction (week 0 to week 8; +2,892 pg/ml, P = 0.02). The percent of body weight supported by the affected limb increased in dogs treated with Fortetropin® (+7.0%, P<0.01) and the placebo group (+4.9%, P<0.01) at the end of the period of forced exercise restriction. The difference in weight bearing between the Fortetropin® and placebo groups was not statistically significant (P = 0.10). CONCLUSION: Dogs receiving Fortetropin® had a similar increase in stance force on the affected limb, no significant increase in serum myostatin levels, and no significant reduction in thigh circumference at the end of the period of forced exercise restriction compared to the placebo. These findings support the feeding of Fortetropin® to prevent disuse muscle atrophy in canine patients undergoing a tibial plateau leveling osteotomy.
Subject(s)
Anterior Cruciate Ligament Injuries/complications , Anterior Cruciate Ligament Injuries/veterinary , Dietary Supplements , Muscular Disorders, Atrophic/diet therapy , Muscular Disorders, Atrophic/etiology , Myostatin/antagonists & inhibitors , Osteotomy , Proteolipids/administration & dosage , Animals , Anterior Cruciate Ligament Injuries/surgery , Dogs , Muscular Disorders, Atrophic/veterinary , Placebos , Proteolipids/pharmacology , Tibia/surgeryABSTRACT
The callipyge phenotype is an ovine muscular hypertrophy characterized by polar overdominance: only heterozygous +Mat/CLPGPat animals receiving the CLPG mutation from their father express the phenotype. +Mat/CLPGPat animals are characterized by postnatal, ectopic expression of Delta-like 1 homologue (DLK1) and Paternally expressed gene 11/Retrotransposon-like 1 (PEG11/RTL1) proteins in skeletal muscle. We showed previously in transgenic mice that ectopic expression of DLK1 alone induces a muscular hypertrophy, hence demonstrating a role for DLK1 in determining the callipyge hypertrophy. We herein describe newly generated transgenic mice that ectopically express PEG11 in skeletal muscle, and show that they also exhibit a muscular hypertrophy phenotype. Our data suggest that both DLK1 and PEG11 act together in causing the muscular hypertrophy of callipyge sheep.
Subject(s)
Membrane Proteins/genetics , Muscular Disorders, Atrophic/veterinary , Pregnancy Proteins/genetics , Sheep Diseases/genetics , Animals , Disease Models, Animal , Mice , Mice, Transgenic , Muscular Disorders, Atrophic/genetics , Muscular Disorders, Atrophic/pathology , Mutation , Sheep , Sheep Diseases/pathologyABSTRACT
A number of idiopathic degenerative diseases affecting the central nervous system, peripheral nerves and muscles of immature and young adult rottweilers are reported. Tetraparesis or ataxia causing abnormalities in gait and posture are clinical findings common to these conditions. The current knowledge about these syndromes is presented in this review, with an emphasis on the clinical characteristics. Knowledge of these syndromes and a methodical approach to neurological diagnosis can help the veterinarian to identify the underlying disease and establish a prognosis when presented with a tetraparetic or ataxic young rottweiler.
Subject(s)
Dog Diseases/diagnosis , Heredodegenerative Disorders, Nervous System/veterinary , Muscular Disorders, Atrophic/veterinary , Animals , Ataxia/diagnosis , Ataxia/veterinary , Dog Diseases/congenital , Dog Diseases/pathology , Dogs , Heredodegenerative Disorders, Nervous System/diagnosis , Muscular Disorders, Atrophic/diagnosis , Pedigree , Quadriplegia/diagnosis , Quadriplegia/veterinaryABSTRACT
INTRODUCTION: The purpose of this study was to evaluate the effects of electrical stimulation on disuse-atrophied muscles. METHODS: Sprague-Dawley rats were used and divided into three groups: control (C), hind-limb suspended for 7 d (HS), and HS plus transcutaneous electrical stimulation for 7 d (ES). In the ES group, transcutaneous electrical stimulation was induced at 1 Hz for 1 h every day to condition the gastrocnemius-plantaris-soleus muscles. Muscle oxidative capacity was evaluated by 31P-MRS in vivo. Maximum tension and muscle wet mass were also measured. RESULTS: Muscle oxidative capacity decreased within 1 wk in HS; however, it was maintained when electric stimulation was applied to the suspended limb. The maximum twitch tension in HS was significantly smaller than that in C (p < 0.05), while in ES it did not differ from that in C. The muscle mass was significantly smaller in the HS and ES groups compared to C (p < 0.05). CONCLUSION: These data indicated that twitch electrical stimulation was effective in preventing deterioration of muscle functions, such as maximum tension and oxidative capacity, induced by 1 wk of disuse.
