The pathogenesis of experimental model of mitochondrial myopathy induced by germanium dioxide.
OBJECTIVE
The purpose of the study was to build up an animal model of mitochondrial myopathy in order to analyse the pathogenesis of the disease.


METHODS
The skeletal muscles from Wistar rats treated with germanium dioxide for 24 weeks were analysed by histopathologic and electron-microscopic studies. A quantitative analysis was carried out in mitochondrial DNAs of these samples. The biological function of the model was determined.


RESULTS
An animal model of mitochondrial myopathy was built up, in which oxygen free radicals were increased and mitochondrial DNA copies were decreased contrasted with controls.


CONCLUSIONS
It suggested that environmental toxin may play a role in the pathogenesis of mitochondrial myopathy. The increase of oxygen free radicals is an important link causing the disease.
Li
X
X
Department of Neurology, Beijing Chaoyang Hospital, Beijing 100020.
Gao
F
F
Chen
Q
Q
D000818:Animals; D004272:DNA, Mitochondrial / Q000378:metabolism; D004195:Disease Models, Animal; D005857:Germanium; D008297:Male; D008931:Mitochondria, Muscle / Q000378:metabolism / Q000648:ultrastructure; D017240:Mitochondrial Myopathies / Q000139:chemically induced* / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology; D051381:Rats; D017208:Rats, Wistar; D017382:Reactive Oxygen Species / Q000378:metabolism*
D004272:DNA, Mitochondrial; D017382:Reactive Oxygen Species; D005857:Germanium; C040516:germanium oxide