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Sanchez GN, Sinha S, Liske H, Chen X, Nguyen V, Delp SL, Schnitzer MJ. In Vivo Imaging of Human Sarcomere Twitch Dynamics in Individual Motor Units. Neuron 2016; 88:1109-1120. [PMID: 26687220 DOI: 10.1016/j.neuron.2015.11.022] [Citation(s) in RCA: 44] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/24/2015] [Revised: 10/28/2015] [Accepted: 11/10/2015] [Indexed: 12/14/2022]
Abstract
Motor units comprise a pre-synaptic motor neuron and multiple post-synaptic muscle fibers. Many movement disorders disrupt motor unit contractile dynamics and the structure of sarcomeres, skeletal muscle's contractile units. Despite the motor unit's centrality to neuromuscular physiology, no extant technology can image sarcomere twitch dynamics in live humans. We created a wearable microscope equipped with a microendoscope for minimally invasive observation of sarcomere lengths and contractile dynamics in any major skeletal muscle. By electrically stimulating twitches via the microendoscope and visualizing the sarcomere displacements, we monitored single motor unit contractions in soleus and vastus lateralis muscles of healthy individuals. Control experiments verified that these evoked twitches involved neuromuscular transmission and faithfully reported muscle force generation. In post-stroke patients with spasticity of the biceps brachii, we found involuntary microscopic contractions and sarcomere length abnormalities. The wearable microscope facilitates exploration of many basic and disease-related neuromuscular phenomena never visualized before in live humans.
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Affiliation(s)
- Gabriel N Sanchez
- Department of Bioengineering, Stanford University, Stanford, CA 94305, USA; Department of Mechanical Engineering, Stanford University, Stanford, CA 94305, USA
| | - Supriyo Sinha
- Department of Biology, Stanford University, Stanford, CA 94305, USA; Department of Applied Physics, Stanford University, Stanford, CA 94305, USA
| | - Holly Liske
- Department of Mechanical Engineering, Stanford University, Stanford, CA 94305, USA
| | - Xuefeng Chen
- Department of Mechanical Engineering, Stanford University, Stanford, CA 94305, USA
| | - Viet Nguyen
- Department of Neurology, Stanford University, Stanford, CA 94305, USA
| | - Scott L Delp
- Department of Bioengineering, Stanford University, Stanford, CA 94305, USA; Department of Mechanical Engineering, Stanford University, Stanford, CA 94305, USA.
| | - Mark J Schnitzer
- Department of Biology, Stanford University, Stanford, CA 94305, USA; Department of Applied Physics, Stanford University, Stanford, CA 94305, USA; Howard Hughes Medical Institute, Stanford University, Stanford, CA 94305, USA.
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Statland JM, Bundy BN, Wang Y, Trivedi JR, Raja Rayan D, Herbelin L, Donlan M, McLin R, Eichinger KJ, Findlater K, Dewar L, Pandya S, Martens WB, Venance SL, Matthews E, Amato AA, Hanna MG, Griggs RC, Barohn RJ. A quantitative measure of handgrip myotonia in non-dystrophic myotonia. Muscle Nerve 2012; 46:482-9. [PMID: 22987687 DOI: 10.1002/mus.23402] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/30/2022]
Abstract
INTRODUCTION Non-dystrophic myotonia (NDM) is characterized by myotonia without muscle wasting. A standardized quantitative myotonia assessment (QMA) is important for clinical trials. METHODS Myotonia was assessed in 91 individuals enrolled in a natural history study using a commercially available computerized handgrip myometer and automated software. Average peak force and 90% to 5% relaxation times were compared with historical normal controls studied with identical methods. RESULTS Thirty subjects had chloride channel mutations, 31 had sodium channel mutations, 6 had DM2 mutations, and 24 had no identified mutation. Chloride channel mutations were associated with prolonged first handgrip relaxation times and warm-up on subsequent handgrips. Sodium channel mutations were associated with prolonged first handgrip relaxation times and paradoxical myotonia or warm-up, depending on underlying mutations. DM2 subjects had normal relaxation times but decreased peak force. Sample size estimates are provided for clinical trial planning. CONCLUSION QMA is an automated, non-invasive technique for evaluating myotonia in NDM.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jeffrey M Statland
- Department of Neurology, University of Rochester Medical Center, Rochester, New York, USA
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