Comparative morphological study between the effects of vitamin E and prednisolone in the treatment of muscular dystrophic fibers of mdx mice

• Grant number: 14/25010-1
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships in Brazil - Scientific Initiation
• Effective date (Start): February 01, 2015
• Effective date (End): January 31, 2016
• Field of knowledge: Biological Sciences - Morphology - Anatomy
• Principal Investigator: Elaine Minatel
• Grantee: Ian Feller Rupcic
• Host Institution: Instituto de Biologia (IB). Universidade Estadual de Campinas (UNICAMP). Campinas , SP, Brazil

Abstract

Currently the most widely used treatment in patients with Duchenne muscular dystrophy (DMD) is the administration of corticosteroids, but prolonged use produces several serious side effects. Thus, it is critical to search for alternative therapies that minimize disease progression and improve quality of life of dystrophic patients with fewer side effects than corticosteroids. Since oxidative stress is involved in the pathogenesis of muscular dystrophy, in this work we hypothesized that treatment with the antioxidant vitamin E may present potential therapeutic effect on dystrophic muscle fibers of mdx mice. We also propose to compare the effect of the administration of vitamin E and the treatment with the corticosteroid prednisolone. To verify the hypothesis, C57BL / 10 mice (control group) and mdx mice at 14 days of age are used. The mdx mice will be divided into three experimental groups: saline treated, treated with Vitamin E and prednisolone-treated by gavage for 14 days. All animals should be subjected to analysis of measurement of force before and after treatment. The quadriceps muscle will be removed and subjected to morphological techniques (for quantification of regenerated and degenerated muscle fibers; inflammation; lipofuscin and DHE). The results will be statistically analyzed. (AU)