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Updated: Apr 12, 2026
In Vivo Electrophysiological Measurement of Compound Muscle Action Potential from the Forelimbs in Mouse Models of Motor Neuron Degeneration
Published on: June 15, 2018
Age-related structural changes in upper extremity muscle tissue in a nonhuman primate model
Anthony C Santago1, Johannes F Plate2, Carol A Shively3
1Virginia Tech-Wake Forest School of Biomedical Engineering and Sciences, Winston-Salem, NC, USA; Department of Biomedical Engineering, Wake Forest School of Medicine, Winston-Salem, NC, USA; Department of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering, North Carolina State University, Raleigh, NC, USA.
Older vervets show reduced upper extremity muscle size, but this does not impact physical performance. This study validates vervets as a model for studying aging-related muscle loss and rotator cuff health.
Area of Science:
- Primate anatomy and aging research.
- Comparative biomechanics and musculoskeletal health.
Background:
- Animal models offer solutions to logistical challenges in human aging studies.
- Vervets are suitable for aging research, but upper extremity muscle changes are unquantified.
- This study addresses age-related muscle structure and rotator cuff integrity in vervets.
Purpose of the Study:
- Quantify age-related muscle structure changes in vervet upper extremities.
- Correlate muscle structure with physical performance measures.
- Assess rotator cuff tear prevalence in aging vervets.
Main Methods:
- Measured muscle volume, optimal fiber length, and physiologic cross-sectional area (PCSA) in 10 upper extremity muscles.
- Utilized 5 middle-aged and 6 older adult female vervets.
- Focused on the right upper limb for structural analysis.
Main Results:
- Older vervets had significantly smaller total PCSA (P=.001), primarily due to muscle volume loss.
- No correlation was found between total PCSA and physical performance measures.
- No rotator cuff tears were observed; supraspinatus volume was relatively larger, and deltoid volume smaller than in humans.
Conclusions:
- Vervets serve as a valid translational model for age-related upper extremity muscle volume loss.
- Lack of correlation between PCSA and function suggests preserved strength in aging vervets.
- Reduced supraspinatus demand may explain the absence of rotator cuff tears in this species.
