title: Hindlimb skeletal muscle function in myostatin-deficient mice.
abstract: Absence of functional myostatin (MSTN) during fetal development results in adult skeletal muscle hypertrophy and hyperplasia. To more fully characterize MSTN loss in hindlimb muscles, the morphology and contractile function of the soleus, plantaris, gastrocnemius, tibialis anterior, and quadriceps muscles in male and female null (Mstn(-/-)), heterozygous (Mstn(+/-)), and wild-type (Mstn(+/+)) mice were investigated. Muscle weights of Mstn(-/-) mice were greater than those of Mstn(+/+) and Mstn(+/-) mice. Fiber cross-sectional area (CSA) was increased in female Mstn(-/-) soleus and gastrocnemius muscles and in the quadriceps of male Mstn(-/-) mice; peak tetanic force in Mstn(-/-) mice did not parallel the increased muscle weight or CSA. Male Mstn(-/-) muscle exhibited moderate degeneration. Visible pathology in male mice and decreased contractile strength relative to increased muscle weight suggest MSTN loss results in muscle impairment, which is dose-, sex-, and muscle-dependent.
authors.affiliation: Department of Veterinary Pathobiology, University of Missouri, Columbia, Missouri, USA.
authors.forename: Bettina A
authors.initials: BA
authors.lastname: Gentry
authors.forename: J Andries
authors.initials: JA
authors.lastname: Ferreira
authors.forename: Charlotte L
authors.initials: CL
authors.lastname: Phillips
authors.forename: Marybeth
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Brown
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D004195:Disease Models, Animal; D005260:Female; D018628:Gene Dosage / Q000235:genetics / Q000502:physiology; D006614:Hindlimb / Q000503:physiopathology*; D008297:Male; D051379:Mice; D008810:Mice, Inbred C57BL; D018345:Mice, Knockout; D009119:Muscle Contraction / Q000235:genetics; D018485:Muscle Fibers, Skeletal / Q000378:metabolism / Q000502:physiology; D018908:Muscle Weakness / Q000235:genetics / Q000503:physiopathology; D018482:Muscle, Skeletal / Q000378:metabolism / Q000503:physiopathology*; D009133:Muscular Atrophy / Q000235:genetics / Q000503:physiopathology; D055435:Myostatin / Q000172:deficiency* / Q000235:genetics; D009929:Organ Size / Q000235:genetics / Q000502:physiology; D012727:Sex Characteristics
chemical_list: C525912:Mstn protein, mouse; D055435:Myostatin