22nd Annual Student Research Conference
The Wire Screen Holding Test is a Reliable Procedure for Determining Muscle Weakness in the MDX Mouse
Jenna M. Sesti* and Kay L. Bruemmer
Dr. Laura Fielden, Faculty Mentor
The 4 limb wire screen holding test is a non-invasive procedure used to measure limb muscle function in the mdx mouse, a model for Duchenne muscular dystrophy. Using this method, a mouse is placed on a wire screen and inverted over a bed of chips. The mouse weight and the holding time of the mouse is used to calculate the physical impulse (weight x time; gsec) for each of 3 successive trials. The reliability of this test was analyzed using the first trial, the best trial, and the mean of the 3 trials. The results indicate that the test is reliable, with the mean being the most reliable measure of the ability of the mouse to sustain tension in the limb flexors. Using the mean hang times, mdx mice (2-4 months) when compared to nondystrophic mice demonstrated significantly decreased limb muscle function (p<0.005).
Keywords: wire screen holding test, Duchenne muscular dystrophy, physical impulse, limb flexors
Topic(s):Biology
Presentation Type: Poster
Session: 10-7
Location: PML
Time: 4:15