Alteration of skeletal and cardiac muscles function in DBA/2J mdx mice background: a focus on high intensity interval training

• Published in: Intractable & Rare Diseases Research Vol. 10; no. 4; pp. 269 - 275
• Main Authors: Baati, Narjes, Mougenot, Nathalie, Lemaitre, Mégane, Kirsch, Marine, Agbulut, Onnik, Ferry, Arnaud, Vitiello, Damien
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: International Research and Cooperation Association for Bio & Socio-Sciences Advancement 30.11.2021; J-STAGE
• Subjects: Brief Report; cardiac function; cardiomyopathy; force production; HIIT; Life Sciences; muscle function
• ISSN: 2186-3644; 2186-361X
• DOI: 10.5582/irdr.2021.01097

Duchenne muscular dystrophy (DMD) is a recessive hereditary myopathy due to deficiency of functional dystrophin. Current therapeutic interventions need more investigation to slow down the progression of skeletal and cardiac muscle weakness. In humans, there is a lack of an adapted training program. In animals, the murine Mdx model with a DBA/2J background (D2-mdx) was recently suggested to present pathological features closer to that of humans. In this study, we characterized skeletal and cardiac muscle functions in males and females D2-mdx mice compared to control groups. We also evaluated the impact of high intensity interval training (HIIT) in these muscles in females and males. HIIT was performed 5 times per week during a month on a motorized treadmill. Specific maximal isometric force production and weakness were measured in the tibialis anterior muscle (TA). Sedentary male and female D2-mdx mice produced lower absolute and specific maximal force compared to control mice. Dystrophic mice showed a decline of force generation during repetitive stimulation compared to controls. This reduction was greater for male D2-mdx mice than females. Furthermore, trained D2-mdx males showed an improvement in force generation after the fifth lengthening contraction compared to sedentary D2-mdx males. Moreover, echocardiography measures revealed a decrease in left ventricular end-diastolic volume, left ventricular ejection volume and left ventricular end-diastolic diameter in sedentary male and female D2-mdx mice. Overall, our results showed a serious muscle function alteration in female and male D2-mdx mice compared to controls. HIIT may delay force loss especially in male D2-mdx mice.