# Protocol for in vivo analysis of muscle function in porcine models for muscular dystrophies

## TL;DR

This paper introduces a standardized protocol for assessing muscle function in pigs with muscular dystrophy to monitor disease progression and test treatments.

## Contribution

A reproducible, non-lethal in vivo protocol for evaluating muscle strength and fatigue in dystrophic pigs.

## Key findings

- The protocol enables objective assessment of muscle strength, contraction/relaxation, and fatigue.
- Direct electrical stimulation under anesthesia ensures consistent and reproducible results.
- The non-lethal workflow supports longitudinal studies in large animal models.

## Abstract

Porcine models carrying DMD mutations recapitulate Duchenne and Becker muscular dystrophy (DMD and BMD), inherited disorders leading to progressive muscle weakness, with DMD presenting a far more severe and rapidly progressive phenotype. Accurate in vivo muscle function assessment is essential for monitoring disease progression and as an efficacy readout for therapeutic intervention. We present a protocol to evaluate muscle strength, dynamics, and fatigue in dystrophic pigs, including design setup, anesthesia, measurement, and data analysis.

For complete details on the use and execution of this protocol, please refer to Blasi et al.1

•Standardized protocol for muscle force characterization in a large animal model•Objective assessment of strength, contraction/relaxation, and fatigue•Direct electrical stimulation under anesthesia for reproducible results•Non-lethal workflow enabling longitudinal studies

Standardized protocol for muscle force characterization in a large animal model

Objective assessment of strength, contraction/relaxation, and fatigue

Direct electrical stimulation under anesthesia for reproducible results

Non-lethal workflow enabling longitudinal studies

Publisher’s note: Undertaking any experimental protocol requires adherence to local institutional guidelines for laboratory safety and ethics.

Porcine models carrying DMD mutations recapitulate Duchenne and Becker muscular dystrophy (DMD and BMD), inherited disorders leading to progressive muscle weakness, with DMD presenting a far more severe and rapidly progressive phenotype. Accurate in vivo muscle function assessment is essential for monitoring disease progression and as an efficacy readout for therapeutic intervention. We present a protocol to evaluate muscle strength, dynamics, and fatigue in dystrophic pigs, including design setup, anesthesia, measurement, and data analysis.