title: A rat model of spontaneous myopathy and malignant hyperthermia.
abstract: Malignant hyperthermia is a main cause of death during general anesthesia, particularly in children. However, research has been hampered by the lack of a convenient animal model, the only one available being a special strain of pig. In this study, we describe spontaneous myopathy and a fatal syndrome of generalized muscle rigidity triggered by halothane in an outbred strain of rat. Histological examination of skeletal muscle reveals severe abnormalities indicating chronic underlying myopathy. The association of histological abnormalities with an acute, fatal syndrome clinically resembling malignant hyperthermia provides a strong basis for a new and extremely useful animal model to study this fatal disorder.
authors.affiliation: Psychopharmacology Research Unit, United Medical and Dental Schools, Guy's Hospital, London, United Kingdom.
authors.forename: L E
authors.initials: LE
authors.lastname: Gonzalez
authors.forename: C V
authors.initials: CV
authors.lastname: Meléndez-Vásquez
authors.forename: N A
authors.initials: NA
authors.lastname: Gregson
authors.forename: S E
authors.initials: SE
authors.lastname: File
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001921:Brain / Q000473:pathology; D004195:Disease Models, Animal; D006221:Halothane / Q000008:administration & dosage; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D008305:Malignant Hyperthermia / Q000503:physiopathology*; D008856:Microscopy, Fluorescence; D018482:Muscle, Skeletal / Q000276:immunology / Q000473:pathology*; D009135:Muscular Diseases / Q000139:chemically induced / Q000503:physiopathology*; D051381:Rats; D011917:Rats, Inbred Lew
chemical_list: D006221:Halothane