Name: tibial nerve transection - a standardized model for denervation-induced skeletal muscle atrophy in mice
Uploaded: 2013-11-03T19:00:00
Description: Watch this Scientific Journal Video about Tibial Nerve Transection - A Standardized Model for Denervation-induced Skeletal Muscle Atrophy in Mice at JoVE.com

This work was supported by grants from the CIHR Neuromuscular Research Partnership (JNM &#x2013; 90959; to J.A.E.B).

Prior to using this model, investigators must have received approval for the surgical protocol from their institution&#39;s animal use governing body. The model is approved by the Research Ethics Board, Hamilton Health Sciences Corporation, McMaster University (AUP # 10-04-24) and is carried out in strict accordance with the recommendations of the Canadian Council on Animal Care.
1. Mouse Preparation
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	<li>Weigh the mouse. Induce anesthesia with 5% isoflurane or 2% halothane. The circuit...

<ol>
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The tibial nerve transection model of denervation-induced skeletal muscle atrophy is a commonly employed and well validated model in rats. We have adapted this model for use in mice, which allows the investigator to take advantage of the existence of genetically engineered mice and study the process of muscle atrophy in vivo in the absence of proteins crucial to the regulation of muscle mass7,8. The gastrocnemius and soleus muscles, both denervated in this model, can be easily and rapidly dissected wi...

Skeletal muscle denervation, due to traumatic peripheral nerve injury, disease or pharmacologic intervention, results in the immediate loss of muscle voluntary contractile function. Muscle concomitantly begins to atrophy and this atrophy is reversible if timely, good-quality reinnervation occurs1,2. In the absence of reinnervation, myofiber atrophy progresses, and irreversible biologic changes in the muscle occur with muscle fibrosis and myofiber death. Here we demonstrate the tibial nerve transection model, a model of denervation-induced skeletal muscle atrophy and fibrosis, in mice. This model enables scientists to study the physiologic, cellular and molecular biologic mechanisms that underlie muscle atrophy in vivo in the gastrocnemius and soleus muscles. While historically used predominantly in rats, more recent application of this model to knockout and transgenic mouse lines specifically, allows investigators to assess the role of their particular protein(s) of interest in the induction, development and maintenance, or alternatively the resolution of, muscle atrophy and fibrosis in vivo.
The tibial nerve is a mixed motor-sensory peripheral nerve in the rodent hindlimb, and is one of the three terminal branches of the sciatic nerve. Transection of the tibial nerve denervates the gastrocnemius, soleus and plantaris muscles (and the three small deep flexor muscles of the foot including tibialis posterior, flexor digitorum longus and flexor hallicus longus), and is a well standardized and validated model in rats3,4. The gastrocnemius and soleus muscles can be easily dissected at serial time points post tibial nerve transection, fixed and processed for assessment of muscle histology and muscle fiber morphometrics, or flash frozen for extraction of muscle RNA and protein for the purpose of studying, for example, the cellular signaling networks regulating muscle atrophy. The gastrocnemius muscle is a mixed fiber type muscle (type I and type II, although predominantly type II) and the soleus muscle is composed of a large proportion of type I fibers, thereby providing both fast and slow twitch muscle for assessment5,6. The tibial nerve transection model is suitable for studying the process of denervation-induced muscle atrophy in both the short term (days)7 and long term (weeks to months)4,8.
In contrast to the sciatic nerve transection model (a second model of denervation-induced muscle atrophy commonly used in rodents), tibial nerve transection induces less morbidity in the animal, making it a more attractive model. Transection of the sciatic nerve denervates all the muscles of the leg (below the knee) and foot, impairing the animal&#39;s ability to ambulate2, whereas transection of the tibial nerve leaves the peroneal and sural nerve branches of the sciatic nerve intact, thus preserving their target muscles and sensory territories. The mouse is unable to plantar flex or invert the foot, but is able to ambulate easily and the weight bears equally on both hind limbs, thereby significantly diminishing the morbidity of the model. Gait analysis studies evaluating walking patterns have been performed in rats following tibial and sciatic nerve injuries and demonstrate that footprint and weight bearing is better preserved with tibial injury9,10. In addition, in the tibial nerve transection model, the peroneal nerve can be mobilized at a later time point and transferred as a source of delayed reinnervation, if the study design requires3. In contrast, delayed reinnervation in the sciatic nerve transection model necessitates the use of a nerve graft to the sciatic nerve deficit, very significantly increasing the technical difficulty of the model and limiting its use to skilled surgeons.
While the tibial nerve transection model requires familiarity of the operator with sterile operative technique in animal surgery, both the tibial nerve and calf muscles it innervates are easily accessible and identifiable for manipulation, so that individuals who are not surgeons, or highly experienced with animal surgery, can readily master this model.

<table border="1">
	<tbody>
		<tr>
			<td></td>
			<td></td>
			<td></td>
			<td>Reagents and Materials</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>10-0 Nylon suture</td>
			<td>Ethicon</td>
			<td>2850G</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>5-0 Vicryl suture</td>
			<td>Ethicon</td>
			<td>J553G</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td></td>
			<td></td>
			<td></td>
			<td>Equipment</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Spring microdissecting scissors</td>
			<td>Fine Surgical Tools</td>
			<td>15021-15</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Ultra fine forceps</td>
			<td>Fine Surgical Tools</td>
			<td>11370-40</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Non locking micro needle holder (driver)</td>
			<td>Fine Surgical Tools</td>
			<td>12076-12</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Spring retractor</td>
			<td>Fine Surgical Tools</td>
			<td>17000-02</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
	</tbody>
</table>

tibial nerve transection - a standardized model for denervation-induced skeletal muscle atrophy in mice

The tibial nerve transection model is a well-tolerated, validated, and reproducible model of denervation-induced skeletal muscle atrophy in rodents. Although originally developed and used extensively in the rat due to its larger size, the tibial nerve in mice is big enough that it can be easily manipulated with either crush or transection, leaving the peroneal and sural nerve branches of the sciatic nerve intact and thereby preserving their target muscles. Thus, this model offers the advantages of inducing less morbidity and impediment of ambulation than the sciatic nerve transection model and also allows investigators to study the physiologic, cellular and molecular biologic mechanisms regulating the process of muscle atrophy in genetically engineered mice. The tibial nerve supplies the gastrocnemius, soleus and plantaris muscles, so its transection permits the study of denervated skeletal muscle composed of fast twitch type II fibers and/or slow twitch type I fibers. Here we demonstrate the tibial nerve transection model in the C57Black6 mouse. We assess the atrophy of the gastrocnemius muscle, as a representative muscle, at 1, 2, and 4 weeks post-denervation by measuring muscle weights and fiber type specific cross-sectional area on paraffin-embedded histologic sections immunostained for fast twitch myosin.

Tibial nerve transection denervates the gastrocnemius, soleus and plantaris muscles of the calf. Here we assess the development of atrophy in the gastrocnemius muscle, as a representative muscle. Gastrocnemius muscle was harvested from 2-3 months old C57Black 6 mice (Jackson Laboratories) denervated for 1, 2, or 4 weeks. Muscle weights progressively decrease (Figure 1), as does the cross-sectional area of type II fast twitch muscle fibers (Figure 2), over time. The gastrocnemius is a mix...

Watch this Scientific Journal Video about Tibial Nerve Transection - A Standardized Model for Denervation-induced Skeletal Muscle Atrophy in Mice at JoVE.com

Tibial Nerve Transection - A Standardized Model for Denervation-induced Skeletal Muscle Atrophy in Mice

The tibial nerve transection model is a well-tolerated, validated, and reproducible model of skeletal muscle atrophy. The model surgical protocol is described and demonstrated in C57Black6 mice. &#160;

The tibial nerve transection model is a well-tolerated, validated, and reproducible model of denervation-induced skeletal muscle atrophy in rodents. ...

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