Normal myogenic cells from newborn mice restore normal histology to degenerating muscles of the mdx mouse (original) (raw)

1990, The Journal of cell biology

Dystrophin deficiency in skeletal muscle of the x-linked dystrophic (mdx) mouse can be partially remedied by implantation of normal muscle precursor cells (mpc) (Partridge, T. A., J. E. Morgan, G. R. Coulton, E. P. Hoffman, and L. M. Kunkel. 1989. Nature (Lond.). 337:176-179). However, it is difficult to determine whether this biochemical "rescue" results in any improvement in the structure or function of the treated muscle, because the vigorous regeneration of mdx muscle more than compensates for the degeneration (Coulton, G. R., N. A. Curtin, J. E. Morgan, and T. A. Partridge. 1988. Neuropathol. Appl. Neurobiol. 14:299-314). By using x-ray irradiation to prevent mpc proliferation, it is possible to study loss of mdx muscle fibers without the complicating effect of simultaneous fiber regeneration. Thus, improvements in fiber survival resulting from any potential therapy can be detected easily (Wakeford, S., D. J. Watt, and T. A. Patridge. 1990. Muscle & Nerve.) Here, we h...