Histochemistry and Morphometric Analysis of Muscle Fibers from Patients with Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy (DMD)

Abstract

SUMMARY:The aim of the study was to analyze the muscle fibers by histochemistry and morphometric methods from patients with Duchenne muscular dystrophy (DMD). Muscle biopsies were taken from the vastus lateralis muscle of five boys between 13 and 15-years of age, with clinical diagnosis of DMD. The histochemistry was performed using myofibrillar ATPases (9.6, 4.6 and 4.3). To morphometrical analysis a computerized semiautomatic system and software Image-Lab was used. ATPase staining showed atrophy of muscle fibers. Fibrosis and adipose deposition occurred in variable degree depending of muscular involvement. The morphometrical analysis showed an increase of size (percentage) to type I fiber than other types in all patients. Furthermore, the type I fiber had a larger cross-sectional area and mean diameter than type IIa and IIb fibers. Both histochemistry and morphometric analysis could be important tools for qualitative and quantitative diagnostics of muscle fibers attacked in this type of disease.

Fiber Metabolism, Procollagen and Collagen Type III Immunoreactivity in Broiler Pectoralis Major Affected by Muscle Abnormalities

“…Overall, the findings of the present study evidence that the occurrence of muscular abnormalities significantly affect the energetic metabolism of the fibers. Among the PM belonging to the fast-growing genotype, if compared with NORM, the significant reduction in the proportion of fibers having glycolytic metabolism (positively stained to α-GPD) observed in myopathic muscles along with an increased percentage of those displaying oxidative metabolism (positively stained to NADH-TR) is in agreement with a previous study in which an increased proportion of type I fibers was found in dystrophic muscles [21]. Within this context, it should be pointed out that previous studies carried out on mice [22] and humans [23] have demonstrated that type I fibers are less prone to develop dystrophic conditions.…”

Phenotypic contrasts of Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy in women: Two case reports

“…1B). Cavalcanti and colleagues [24] observed atrophy, variability in fiber size and endomysial fibrosis with infiltration of fat in their histological analysis of patients with DMD, with a predominance of type 1 muscle. In DMD, there is a frequently occurrence of progressive loss of muscle fiber simultaneous to muscle weakness and loss, as well as reduced sarcolemmal expression, of dystrophin in carriers [25].…”