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PredicateObject
rdf:type
lifeskim:mentions
pubmed:issue
14
pubmed:dateCreated
2005-7-4
pubmed:abstractText
Null mutation of dystrophin causes the lethal pathology of Duchenne muscular dystrophy (DMD) in which there is progressive pathology of skeletal and cardiac muscles. A large proportion of DMD patient deaths are attributable to cardiac dysfunction associated with ventricular fibrosis, arrhythmias and conduction abnormalities, although the relationships between the dystrophin mutation and the cardiac defects are unknown. Here, we tested whether cardiac pathology in dystrophin-deficient mdx mice can be corrected by the elevated production of nitric oxide (NO) by the myocardium. Dystrophin-deficient mdx mice were produced in which there was myocardial expression of a neuronal nitric oxide synthase (nNOS) transgene. Expression of the transgene prevented the progressive ventricular fibrosis of mdx mice and greatly reduced myocarditis. Electrocardiographs (ECG) attained by radiotelemetry of freely ambulatory mice showed that mdx mice displayed cardiac abnormalities that are characteristic of DMD patients, including deep Q-waves, diminished S:R ratios, polyphasic R-waves and frequent premature ventricular contractions. All of these ECG abnormalities in mdx mice were improved or corrected by nNOS transgene expression. In addition, defects in mdx cardiac autonomic function, which were reflected by decreased heart rate variability, were significantly reduced by nNOS transgene expression. These findings indicate that increasing NO production by dystrophic hearts may have therapeutic value.
pubmed:grant
pubmed:language
eng
pubmed:journal
pubmed:citationSubset
IM
pubmed:chemical
pubmed:status
MEDLINE
pubmed:month
Jul
pubmed:issn
0964-6906
pubmed:author
pubmed:issnType
Print
pubmed:day
15
pubmed:volume
14
pubmed:owner
NLM
pubmed:authorsComplete
Y
pubmed:pagination
1921-33
pubmed:dateRevised
2007-11-14
pubmed:meshHeading
pubmed:year
2005
pubmed:articleTitle
Cardiomyopathy in dystrophin-deficient hearts is prevented by expression of a neuronal nitric oxide synthase transgene in the myocardium.
pubmed:affiliation
Department of Physiological Science, David Geffen School of Medicine, University of California, Los Angeles 90095, USA.
pubmed:publicationType
Journal Article, Research Support, U.S. Gov't, P.H.S., Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't, Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural