Microendoscopy detects altered muscular contractile dynamics in a mouse model of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis.

ABSTRACT: Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) is a fatal disease involving motor neuron degeneration. Effective diagnosis of ALS and quantitative monitoring of its progression are crucial to the success of clinical trials. Second harmonic generation (SHG) microendoscopy is an emerging technology for imaging single motor unit contractions. To assess the potential value of microendoscopy for diagnosing and tracking ALS, we monitored motor unit dynamics in a B6.SOD1G93A mouse model of ALS for several weeks. Prior to overt symptoms, muscle twitch rise and relaxation time constants both increased, consistent with a loss of fast-fatigable motor units. These effects became more pronounced with disease progression, consistent with the death of fast fatigue-resistant motor units and superior survival of slow

SUBMITTER: Chen X 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC6965652 | biostudies-literature | 2020 Jan

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature