title: The avian low score normal muscle weakness alters decorin expression and collagen crosslinking.
abstract: Extracellular matrix development of chicken pectoral muscle was examined in the Low Score Normal (LSN) genetic muscle weakness and compared to both normal and avian muscular dystrophy (MD). At 20 days of embryonic development significant elevations were noted in LSN total glycosaminoglycan concentration and decorin, while at 14 days, LSN glycosaminoglycan and decorin levels were indistinguishable from the controls. Levels of a large skeletal muscle chondroitin sulfate proteoglycan (M-CSPG) appear to be unaffected. Morphologically, at 20 days, the extracellular matrix space between muscle fibers increased to a level characteristic to that observed in avian muscular dystrophy. At six weeks posthatch a marked increase in LSN collagen crosslinking relative to MD or control tissues was observed, while collagen concentration was not altered. By one year posthatch LSN collagen crosslink levels did not significantly differ from normal tissue. These data support the concept that the LSN muscle weakness is associated with changes in both proteoglycan and collagen characteristics.
authors.affiliation: Department of Animal Genetics, University of Connecticut, Storrs 06269, USA.
authors.forename: S G
authors.initials: SG
authors.lastname: Velleman
authors.forename: J D
authors.initials: JD
authors.lastname: Yeager
authors.forename: H
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Krider
authors.forename: D A
authors.initials: DA
authors.lastname: Carrino
authors.forename: S D
authors.initials: SD
authors.lastname: Zimmerman
authors.forename: R J
authors.initials: RJ
authors.lastname: McCormick
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001717:Birds; D002642:Chick Embryo; D002645:Chickens; D011508:Chondroitin Sulfate Proteoglycans / Q000378:metabolism; D003094:Collagen / Q000378:metabolism*; D003432:Cross-Linking Reagents; D058575:Decorin; D005109:Extracellular Matrix / Q000378:metabolism; D016326:Extracellular Matrix Proteins; D005260:Female; D006025:Glycosaminoglycans / Q000378:metabolism; D008297:Male; D018908:Muscle Weakness; D009137:Muscular Dystrophy, Animal / Q000378:metabolism*; D010369:Pectoralis Muscles / Q000196:embryology / Q000378:metabolism*; D011509:Proteoglycans / Q000378:metabolism*
chemical_list: D011508:Chondroitin Sulfate Proteoglycans; D003432:Cross-Linking Reagents; D058575:Decorin; D016326:Extracellular Matrix Proteins; D006025:Glycosaminoglycans; D011509:Proteoglycans; D003094:Collagen