Skip to main page content
U.S. flag

An official website of the United States government

Dot gov

The .gov means it’s official.
Federal government websites often end in .gov or .mil. Before sharing sensitive information, make sure you’re on a federal government site.

Https

The site is secure.
The https:// ensures that you are connecting to the official website and that any information you provide is encrypted and transmitted securely.

Access keys NCBI Homepage MyNCBI Homepage Main Content Main Navigation
. 2018 May 2:10:ecurrents.md.230ed3d6559b171e10279fc16e9ebef3.
doi: 10.1371/currents.md.230ed3d6559b171e10279fc16e9ebef3.

Greater Colo-Rectal Activation Phenotype in Exercised mdx Mice

Affiliations

Greater Colo-Rectal Activation Phenotype in Exercised mdx Mice

Marie Nearing et al. PLoS Curr. .

Abstract

Introduction: Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy is a genetic disease that is caused by a deficiency of dystrophin protein. Both Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy patients and dystrophic mice suffer from intestinal dysfunction.

Methods: The present study arose from a chance observation of differences in fecal output of dystrophic vs. normal mice during 20-minutes of forced continuous treadmill exercise. Here, we report on the effects of exercise on fecal output in two different dystrophic mutants and their normal background control strains. All fecal materials evacuated during exercise were counted, dried and weighed.

Results: Mice of both mutant dystrophic strains produced significantly more fecal material during the exercise bout than the relevant control strains.

Iscussion: We propose that exercise--induced Colo--Rectal Activation Phenotype test could be used as a simple, highly sensitive, non-invasive biomarker to determine efficacy of dystrophin replacement therapies.

PubMed Disclaimer

Figures

Fecal output remains constant across all ages regardless of exercise/resting protocol or strain. (A) Resting and (B) exercised fecal output rate over age. (C) Resting and (D) exercised weight per fecal pellet over age. All data are reported as mean values ± SEM with level of significance set at P < 0.05.
Fecal output remains constant across all ages regardless of exercise/resting protocol or strain. (A) Resting and (B) exercised fecal output rate over age. (C) Resting and (D) exercised weight per fecal pellet over age. All data are reported as mean values ± SEM with level of significance set at P < 0.05.
Fecal pellet weights are constant between all strains regardless of exercise/resting protocol. Weight per fecal pellet in resting (open circles) and exercised (closed circles) animals. Data for exercised BL6 animals are not shown due to the complete absence of fecal output. All data are reported as mean values ± SEM with level of significance set at P < 0.05.
Fecal pellet weights are constant between all strains regardless of exercise/resting protocol. Weight per fecal pellet in resting (open circles) and exercised (closed circles) animals. Data for exercised BL6 animals are not shown due to the complete absence of fecal output. All data are reported as mean values ± SEM with level of significance set at P < 0.05.
Resting animals show comparable fecal output rates across all strains. Rate of fecal output in resting animals. All data are reported as mean values ± SEM with level of significance set at P < 0.05.
Resting animals show comparable fecal output rates across all strains. Rate of fecal output in resting animals. All data are reported as mean values ± SEM with level of significance set at P < 0.05.
Fecal output remains constant across all ages regardless of exercise/resting protocol or strain. (A) Resting and (B) exercised fecal output rate over age. (C) Resting and (D) exercised weight per fecal pellet over age. All data are reported as mean values ± SEM with level of significance set at P < 0.05.
Fecal output remains constant across all ages regardless of exercise/resting protocol or strain. (A) Resting and (B) exercised fecal output rate over age. (C) Resting and (D) exercised weight per fecal pellet over age. All data are reported as mean values ± SEM with level of significance set at P < 0.05.

References

    1. Kraus D, Wong BL, Horn PS, Kaul A. Constipation in Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy: Prevalence, Diagnosis, and Treatment. J Pediatr. 2016 Apr;171:183-8. PubMed PMID:26831528. - PubMed
    1. Borrelli O, Salvia G, Mancini V, Santoro L, Tagliente F, Romeo EF, Cucchiara S. Evolution of gastric electrical features and gastric emptying in children with Duchenne and Becker muscular dystrophy. Am J Gastroenterol. 2005 Mar;100(3):695-702. PubMed PMID:15743370. - PubMed
    1. Barohn RJ, Levine EJ, Olson JO, Mendell JR. Gastric hypomotility in Duchenne's muscular dystrophy. N Engl J Med. 1988 Jul 7;319(1):15-8. PubMed PMID:3380114. - PubMed
    1. Gottrand F, Guillonneau I, Carpentier A. Segmental colonic transit time in Duchenne muscular dystrophy. Arch Dis Child. 1991 Oct;66(10):1262. PubMed PMID:1953021. - PMC - PubMed
    1. Mulè F, Amato A, Serio R. Gastric emptying, small intestinal transit and fecal output in dystrophic (mdx) mice. J Physiol Sci. 2010 Jan;60(1):75-9. PubMed PMID:19784719. - PMC - PubMed

LinkOut - more resources