Quantitative assessment of muscle mass and gene expression analysis in dogs with glucocorticoid-induced muscle atrophy.

Abstract

The present study aimed to quantitatively evaluate muscle mass and gene expression in dogs with glucocorticoid-induced muscle atrophy. Five healthy beagles received oral prednisolone for 4 weeks (1 mg/kg/day), and muscle mass was then evaluated via computed tomography. Histological and gene expression analyses were performed using biopsy samples from the biceps femoris before and after prednisolone administration. The cross-sectional area of the third lumbar paraspinal and mid-femoral muscles significantly decreased after glucocorticoid administration (from 27.5 &#xb1; 1.9 to 22.6 &#xb1; 2.0 cmand from 55.1 &#xb1; 4.7 to 50.7 &#xb1; 4.1 cm, respectively; P<0.01). The fast- and slow-twitch muscle fibers were both atrophied (from 2,779 &#xb1; 369 to 1,581 &#xb1; 207 &#x3bc;mand from 2,871 &#xb1; 211 to 1,971 &#xb1; 169 &#x3bc;m, respectively; P<0.05). The expression of the growth factor receptor-bound protein 10 (GRB10) significantly increased after prednisolone administration (P<0.05). Because GRB10 suppresses insulin signaling and the subsequent mammalian target of rapamycin complex 1 activity, increased expression of GRB10 may have resulted in a decrease in protein anabolism. Taken together, 1 mg/kg/day oral prednisolone for 4 weeks induced significant muscle atrophy in dogs, and GRB10 might participate in the pathology of glucocorticoid-induced muscle atrophy in canines.