Assessment of muscle mass and strength in mice.
Muscle weakness is an important phenotype of many diseases that is linked to impaired locomotion and increased mortality. The force that a muscle can generate is determined predominantly by muscle size, fiber type and the excitation-contraction coupling process. Here we describe methods for the histological assessment of whole muscle to determine fiber cross-sectional area and fiber type, determination of changes in myocyte size using C2C12 cells, in vivo functional tests and measurement of contractility in dissected whole muscles. The extensor digitorum longus and soleus muscles are ideally suited for whole-muscle contractility, and dissection of these muscles is described.
Department of Surgery, Indiana University School of Medicine , Indianapolis, IN, USA ; Indiana University Melvin and Bren Simon Cancer Center , Indianapolis, IN, USA.
Andrea
A
Bonetto
Department of Medicine/Cardiology Unit, Karolinska Institute , Stockholm, Sweden ; Department of Physiology and Pharmacology, Karolinska Institute , Stockholm, Sweden.
Daniel C
DC
Andersson
Indiana University Melvin and Bren Simon Cancer Center , Indianapolis, IN, USA ; Department of Medicine, Indiana University School of Medicine , Indianapolis, IN, USA.
David L
DL
Waning