How to calibrate an Aurora Scientific High Speed Length Controller using HVSL
Our 315D & 322D models of High-Speed Length Controllers are routinely used by researchers studying small tissue samples such
Biomechanical Properties of GI Smooth Muscle
Image courtesy of Siri et al. (2019). Disorders like gastroparesis, gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD), and
Targeted genome editing in vivo corrects a Dmd duplication restoring wild-type dystrophin expression
Many rare inheritable diseases often result from duplication mutations. Unfortunately, there is difficulty finding animal models that accurately represent these
Profiling age-related muscle weakness and wasting: neuromuscular junction transmission as a driver of age-related physical decline
Physiological changes that lead to skeletal muscle dysfunction and atrophy during aging are poorly understood and thus therapeutic interventions which
Efficient precise in vivo base editing in adultdystrophic mice
Duchenne muscular dystrophy (DMD) is a muscular disease caused by alterations in dystrophin expression, which has a functional role in muscle force transmission and sarcolemma stability. As such, a loss of dystrophin can lead to muscle weakening and wasting, cardiomyopathy, and several other health conditions. This study focuses on the efficacy of using NG-targeting base editors to restore dystrophin levels in mdx4cv mice. Five weeks following base editor AAv9-iNG injection, mdx4cv mouse hearts exhibited increased levels of dystrophin. Furthermore, approximately 42% of cardiomyocytes became dystrophin-positive following systemic AAV9-iNG treatment, whereas dystrophin expression remained almost completely absent in the control group. A long-term analysis conducted at the 10-month mark showed that dystrophin was almost completely rescued in mdx4cv mouse hearts. In addition to this, dystrophin rescue was also observed in skeletal muscles, including the gastrocnemius and diaphragm, of mdx4cv mice treated with AAV9-iNG. Long-term analysis following intravenous administration of AAV9-iNG also showed almost complete dystrophin restoration (95% of wild type level) in mdx4cv hearts. Through trichome staining analysis, the increased percentage of fibrotic areas seen in the muscle of mdx4cv mice was significantly reduced in those treated with the base editor. Lastly, to determine if AAV9-iNG could improve muscle function, the authors used Aurora’s 1300A 3-in-1 Whole Animal System to measure the maximum plantarflexion tetanic torque during supramaximal electric stimulation of the tibial nerve. The results showed that mdx4cv mice produced significantly less torque compared to wild type mice. Moreover, a significant increase in tetanic torque was observed in AAV9-iNG treated mdx4cv mice. These findings underscore the importance of optimized base editing techniques and their potential use in treating monogenic diseases such as DMD.
Dose-Escalation Study of Systemically Delivered rAAVrh74.MHCK7.micro-dystrophin in the mdx Mouse Model of Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy
Duchenne muscular dystrophy (DMD) is a rare neuromuscular disease caused by mutations in the DMD gene. These mutations disrupt the expression of dystrophin, a protein important for muscle fiber stability. DMD is characterized by a progressive loss of skeletal and cardiac muscle strength. This study focuses on characterizing the effects of rAAVrh74.MHCK7.micro-dystrophin, an adeno-associated virus vector containing a codon-optimized human micro-dystrophin transgene, on DMD mice. The authors administered systemic injections of the dystrophin-restoring vector to mdx mice at low, intermediate, and high doses. Three months post-treatment, they analyzed micro-dystrophin positive fibers via immunofluorescent staining. They observed mean expression percentages of 46.7%, 66.8%, and 78.3% for low, intermediate, and high doses, respectively, across all muscles assessed (TA, GAS, QD, PSO, TRI, GLUT and DIA). Fiber diameter and fibrosis were then assessed, where low and intermediate doses reduced fibrosis and normalized fiber size in the diaphragm, similar to that of wild type. Force production was analyzed using Aurora’s 1200A isolated muscle system. In vitro analysis of the dystrophic diaphragm revealed improvement in specific force output following high dose treatment similar to that of wild type. To determine if restoring dystrophin would have a functional effect on hindlimb muscle, the authors further assessed the tibialis anterior (TA) in situ using the 1300A Whole Animal System. rAAVrh74.MHCK7.micro-dystrophin not only improved force output in the TA but rescued the muscle from eccentric contraction-induced damage. Lastly, western blot analysis of tissues from injected mice showed micro-dystrophin protein expression across all skeletal muscles. No micro-dystrophin was detected in off-target organs at low and intermediate doses, with high dose exhibiting faint expression in only the liver. These findings demonstrate safety and efficacy of systemic delivery of rAAVrh74.MHCK7.micro-dystrophin, supporting the use of this vector in Phase I/II safety study in boys with DMD.
Effects of Prolonged Dietary Curcumin Exposure on Skeletal Muscle Biochemical and Functional Responses of Aged Male Rats
Sarcopenia, an age-related condition involving the decline of muscle mass and function, affects 11-50% of those 80 years and older. The causes of sarcopenia are complex as the process of aging is characterized by several biological events. Skeletal muscle oxidative stress is one example and can result in disrupted cellular redox regulation and altered transcription factor activity. In this paper, the authors focus on characterizing the effects of curcumin, a compound shown to combat oxidative damage-inducing agents in aging skeletal muscle. As such, this study analyzed muscle mass and function in aged F344xBN rats exposed to long-term dietary curcumin. Rats were divided into three groups, one of which was provided a curcumin supplemented diet (CUR), the second consisting of rats given a modified amount of food to match the food consumption of CUR rats (PAIR), and a control group consuming a standard diet (CON). After four months of dietary supplementation, functional assessment of the rat plantaris muscle was assessed in situ. Contractile characteristics were measured isometrically at optimal length to determine maximum twitch and tetanic tension using the 1305A 3-in-1 Whole Animal System. The authors found that plantaris muscle mass and peak tetanic tension was significantly greater in CUR mice when compared to PAIR mice. Furthermore, both CON and CUR mice had significantly greater plantaris peak twitch tension than PAIR mice. In addition to this, molecular analysis showed that CUR mice exhibited greater levels of nuclear nrf2 and lower levels of oxidative damage markers when compared to PAIR mice. These differences in expression may mediate the increased peak twitch tension and peak tetanic tension seen in CUR mice, as oxidative stress can cause muscle contractile dysfunction and thus decreased force. In a complimentary study, CUR mice exhibited a greater peak twitch and specific tetanic tension response of the plantaris when administered curcumin via osmotic pumps. Taken together, these findings may help in elucidating the effectiveness of long-term curcumin supplementation in treating sarcopenia.