Increasing muscle contractility through low-frequency stimulation alters tibial bone geometry and reduces bone strength in mdx and dko dystrophic mice

Abstract

Patients with Duchenne muscular dystrophy (DMD) develop bone fragility because of muscle weakness and immobilization. We investigated whether increasing muscle contractile activity through low-frequency stimulation (LFS) could alter bone architecture in dystrophin-deficient ( mdx) or dystrophin- and utrophin-deficient ( dko) mouse models of DMD. Chronic LFS reduced tibial diaphysis cross sections in mdx and dko mice, without affecting bone shape in healthy mice. LFS affected the distribution of bone mineral density across all phenotypes, with the magnitude of effect being dependent on disease severity.