Gamma irradiation can reduce muscle damage in mdx dystrophic mice

We report the effects of a single gamma irradiation delivered to the soleus muscle of one limb of normal and mdx mice at the age of 16–20 days. At 45, 75 and 90 days of age transverse cryostat sections from the mid-belly of the muscles were used for microscopic examination. In normal mice the growth of fibres was appreciably reduced by irradiation without fibre loss. In the irradiated soleus of mdx mice the number of the regenerated centrally nucleated fibres was very small and the total number of fibres was remarkably reduced. The number of the peripherally nucleated fibres, presumably surviving since the birth of the animal, was almost consistently larger than in the contralateral non-irradiated limb. The cross-sectional area of the irradiated fibres was smaller. It is well known that proliferation and fusion of satellite cells are required both for regeneration after fibre damage and for the normal postnatal growth of muscle fibres: irradiation appears to reduce regeneration and growth. It is suggested that irradiation reduces damage by reducing fusion associated with growth. Our hypothesis indirectly indicates a significant link between dystrophin deficiency and fibre necrosis and accounts well for many features of mouse dystrophy under natural and experimental conditions. Received: 2 October 1997 / Revised: 26 January 1998, 23 April 1998 / Accepted: 2 June 1998