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Published on: June 29, 2013
Insulin-like growth factor-1 infusion in preterm piglets does not affect growth parameters of skeletal muscle or
Malene Tangbjerg1,2, Ann Damgaard1,2, Anders Karlsen2,3
1Institute of Sports Medicine Copenhagen, Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, Copenhagen University Hospital - Bispebjerg and Frederiksberg, Copenhagen, Denmark.
Insights
Insulin-like growth factor 1 (IGF-1) did not improve muscle or tendon growth in preterm piglets. Preterm birth impacts muscle development, but IGF-1 treatment showed no significant benefits for these tissues.
Area of Science:
- Developmental Biology
- Neonatal Physiology
- Musculoskeletal Research
Background:
- Prematurity leads to adverse physical outcomes, including reduced birth weight, muscle mass, and increased risk of metabolic diseases later in life.
- Insulin-like growth factor 1 (IGF-1) is explored for its potential to enhance muscle and tendon development in premature infants, mitigating long-term health issues.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the therapeutic effect of IGF-1 on the extensor carpi radialis muscle and biceps brachii tendon in preterm piglets.
- To assess IGF-1's impact on muscle fiber size, type composition, satellite cell content, and tendon maturation markers in a preterm piglet model.
Main Methods:
- Preterm piglets (19-day-old, 10 days early) were treated with either IGF-1 or a vehicle.
- Term control groups included 9-day-old (D9) and 19-day-old (D19) piglets.
- Muscle and tendon tissues were analyzed using immunofluorescence, RT-qPCR, and assessments of collagen content, maturation markers, and vascularization.
Main Results:
- IGF-1 treatment did not significantly affect any measured endpoints in preterm piglets.
- Preterm piglets exhibited smaller muscle fiber cross-sectional area (CSA) compared to term controls (D9 and D19).
- Tendon CSA and mRNA levels of COL1A1, tenomodulin, and scleraxis were influenced by age, with increased markers of maturation in D9 compared to preterm piglets.
Conclusions:
- IGF-1 treatment does not appear to influence the growth and maturation of skeletal muscle and tendon in preterm-born piglets.
- Preterm birth itself is associated with impaired muscle development, independent of the IGF-1 intervention tested.
Abstract:
Prematurity has physical consequences, such as lower birth weight, decreased muscle mass and increased risk of adult-onset metabolic disease. Insulin-like growth factor 1 (IGF-1) has therapeutic potential to improve the growth and quality of muscle and tendon in premature births, and thus attenuate some of these sequalae. We investigated the effect of IGF-1 on extensor carpi radialis muscle and biceps brachii tendon of preterm piglets. The preterm group consisted of 19-day-old preterm (10 days early) piglets, treated with either IGF-1 or vehicle. Term controls consisted of groups of 9-day-old piglets (D9) and 19-day-old piglets (D19). Muscle samples were analysed by immunofluorescence to determine the cross-sectional area (CSA) of muscle fibres, fibre type composition, satellite cell content and central nuclei-containing fibres in the muscle. Tendon samples were analysed for CSA, collagen content and maturation, and vascularization. Gene expression of the tendon was measured by RT-qPCR. Across all endpoints, we found no significant effect of IGF-1 treatment on preterm piglets. Preterm piglets had smaller muscle fibre CSA compared to D9 and D19 control group. Satellite cell content was similar across all groups. For tendon, we found an effect of age on tendon CSA, and mRNA levels of COL1A1, tenomodulin and scleraxis. Immunoreactivity for elastin and CD31, and several markers of tendon maturation, were increased in D9 compared to the preterm piglets. Collagen content was similar across groups. IGF-1 treatment of preterm-born piglets does not influence the growth and maturation of skeletal muscle and tendon.
