Makayla Kelley
Pronouns: She/Her
Research Mentor(s): Lisa Larkin
Research Mentor School/College/Department: University of Michigan / Medicine
Program: UROP
Session: Session 4 (1:40pm – 2:30pm)
Authors: Makayla Kelley , Eileen Su, Christopher Kennedy, Ryan Ettner, Luisa Nierhoff , Emmanuel Vega-Soto, Lisa Larkin
Abstract
INTRODUCTION: Volumetric Muscle Loss (VML) injuries result in irrevocable damage to muscle tissue and its function. This study assessed the number of fibers and fiber type composition of healthy muscle tissue compared to VML tissue grafts. Evidence from previous studies hypothesizes that there is a greater distribution of type I fibers in tissue that has undergone VML. METHODS: This study used male Ovine weighing 19-32kg. To introduce a VML injury, a v-cut longitudinal portion of the PT constituting 30% total muscle volume was removed. Following a 6-week recovery, the animals were euthanized, and the contralateral (right) and surgical (left) PTs were dissected, weighed and prepared for histological analyses. Currently, fiber type of the muscle is being characterized through immunostaining using MHC fast & slow antibodies. RESULTS: Data specific to fiber typing has not yet been collected and no results have been yielded. We expect to determine the change in number of fibers present and fiber type distribution between the muscle groups. Identifying these values will provide insight on whether there is a difference in the morphology of the injured muscle. DISCUSSION: To date, no evidence-based conclusions can be drawn about the number of fibers or the fiber types within the muscles. Further analysis of healthy and injured muscles will provide clarity on the impact of VML and its effect on muscle tissue morphology. As previously mentioned, the expected outcome is that there will be a greater distribution of type I fibers in tissue that has undergone VML. SIGNIFICANCE: This study will underscore the impact of VML injury and aid in the advancement of techniques for muscle restoration. Furthermore, study results will be relevant to humans and issues such as fibrosis and acute inflammation.
