In Vivo Measurement of Hindlimb Dorsiflexor Isometric Torque from Pig

Area of Science:

• Biomedical Engineering
• Translational Science
• Animal Models

Background:

• Skeletal muscle strength assessment is vital for evaluating regenerative therapies in neuromuscular and musculoskeletal studies.
• Large animal models are essential for translating regenerative therapies, requiring scalable and effective assessment methods.
• Existing physiological preparations (in vitro, in situ, in vivo) have limitations, with in vivo offering repeated measurement advantages.

Purpose of the Study:

• To present a reliable in vivo method for assessing isometric torque of hindlimb dorsiflexor muscles.
• To establish a standardized protocol for use in anesthetized pigs.
• To facilitate the evaluation of regenerative therapies in a large animal model.

Main Methods:

• Development of an in vivo isometric torque measurement protocol.
• Utilizing standard peroneal electrical stimulation in anesthetized pigs.
• Focusing on hindlimb dorsiflexor muscle assessment.

Main Results:

• A reliable method for assessing isometric torque in vivo was established.
• The protocol allows for repeatable measurements within the same animal.
• This method is suitable for large animal models like pigs.

Conclusions:

• The presented in vivo method provides a reliable approach for measuring skeletal muscle strength in pigs.
• This technique supports the evaluation of regenerative therapies by enabling robust efficacy assessment in large animals.
• This work contributes to advancing translational research in muscle disease and injury.