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Assessment of intensive care unit-acquired weakness in young and old mice: An E. coli septic peritonitis model
Esther Witteveen1,2, Inge C M Hoogland3,4, Luuk Wieske1,2,3
1Department of Intensive Care Medicine, Academic Medical Center, Room G3-228, PO box 22700, Meibergdreef 9, 1105 AZ, Amsterdam, the Netherlands.
Introduction:
There are few reports of in vivo muscle strength measurements in animal models of ICU-acquired weakness (ICU-AW). In this study we investigated whether the Escherichia coli (E. coli) septic peritonitis mouse model may serve as an ICU-AW model using in vivo strength measurements and myosin/actin assays, and whether development of ICU-AW is age-dependent in this model.
Methods:
Young and old mice were injected intraperitoneally with E. coli and treated with ceftriaxone. Forelimb grip strength was measured at multiple time points, and the myosin/actin ratio in muscle was determined.
Results:
E. coli administration was not associated with grip strength decrease, neither in young nor in old mice. In old mice, the myosin/actin ratio was lower in E. coli mice at t = 48 h and higher at t = 72 h compared with controls.
Conclusions:
This E. coli septic peritonitis mouse model did not induce decreased grip strength. In its current form, it seems unsuitable as a model for ICU-AW.
