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Comparison of pelvic muscle architecture between humans and commonly used laboratory species

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Abstract

Introduction and hypothesis

Pelvic floor muscles (PFM) are deleteriously affected by vaginal birth, which contributes to the development of pelvic floor disorders. To mechanistically link these events, experiments using animal models are required, as access to human PFM tissue is challenging. In choosing an animal model, a comparative study of PFM design is necessary, since gross anatomy alone is insufficient to guide the selection.

Methods

Human PFM architecture was measured using micromechanical dissection and then compared with mouse (n = 10), rat (n = 10), and rabbit (n = 10) using the Architectural Difference Index (ADI) (parameterizing a combined measure of sarcomere length-to-optimal-sarcomere ratio, fiber-to-muscle-length ratio, and fraction of total PFM mass and physiological cross-sectional area (PCSA) contributed by each muscle). Coccygeus (C), iliocaudalis (IC), and pubocaudalis (PC) were harvested and subjected to architectural measurements. Parameters within species were compared using repeated measures analysis of variance (ANOVA) with post hoc Tukey’s tests. The scaling relationships of PFM across species were quantified using least-squares regression of log-10-transformed variables.

Results

Based on the ADI, rat was found to be the most similar to humans (ADI = 2.5), followed by mouse (ADI = 3.3). When animals’ body mass was regressed against muscle mass, muscle length, fiber length, and PCSA scaling coefficients showed a negative allometric relationship or smaller increase than predicted by geometric scaling.

Conclusion

In terms of muscle design among commonly used laboratory animals, rat best approximates the human PFM, followed by mouse. Negative allometric scaling of PFM architectural parameters is likely due to the multifaceted function of these muscles.

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Funding

The authors gratefully acknowledge funding by NIH grants K12 HD001259 and R24 HD050837.

Conflicts of interest

None.

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Reproductive Medicine, Division of Female Pelvic Medicine and Reconstructive Surgery, University of California San Diego, San Diego, CA, USA

    Marianna Alperin

  2. Doctor of Physical Therapy Program Exercise and Nutritional Sciences, San Diego State University, San Diego, CA, USA

    Lori J. Tuttle

  3. Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, University of California San Diego, San Diego, CA, USA

    Blair R. Conner, Samuel R. Ward & Richard L. Lieber

  4. Department of Bioengineering, University of California San Diego, San Diego, CA, USA

    Danielle M. Dixon, Margie A. Mathewson, Samuel R. Ward & Richard L. Lieber

  5. Department of Radiology, University of California San Diego, San Diego, CA, USA

    Samuel R. Ward & Richard L. Lieber

  6. Department of Veterans Affairs Medical Center San Diego, San Diego, CA, USA

    Richard L. Lieber

  7. University of California and V.A. Medical Centers, 9500 Gilman Drive La Jolla, San Diego, CA, 92093-0863, USA

    Richard L. Lieber

Authors
  1. Marianna Alperin
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  2. Lori J. Tuttle
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  3. Blair R. Conner
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  4. Danielle M. Dixon
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  5. Margie A. Mathewson
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  6. Samuel R. Ward
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  7. Richard L. Lieber
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Corresponding author

Correspondence to Richard L. Lieber.

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Alperin, M., Tuttle, L.J., Conner, B.R. et al. Comparison of pelvic muscle architecture between humans and commonly used laboratory species. Int Urogynecol J 25, 1507–1515 (2014). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00192-014-2423-9

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00192-014-2423-9

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