Faculty of Medicine, Dentistry and Health Sciences Department of Physiology

Basic and Clinical Myology Laboratory

  • Introduction
  • Recent B&CM Laboratory Publications
  • 2008 B&CM Laboratory Research Profiles
  • Experimental Techniques
  • Latest News
  • Current Animal Models
  • 2008 Student Research Projects
  • Alumni
  • Collaborators
  • Links
  • Current Funding Sources
  • Want to learn more?
  • ***NEW***

    Click HERE to see photos of lab members at work and at play

    Download the full text of our recent article published in Physiological Reviews HERE

    "Role of b-adrenoceptor signaling in skeletal muscle: Implications for muscle wasting and disease"

     

    Introduction

    Myology - the study of muscles  

    Muscle wasting and weakness are common in many disease states and conditions including ageing, cancer cachexia, denervation, disuse, unloading/microgravity, and the muscular dystrophies. Although the maintenance of muscle mass is generally regarded as a simple balance between protein synthesis and protein degradation, these mechanisms are not strictly independent but in fact are coordinated by a number of different and sometimes complementary signalling pathways. Our laboratory is interested in examining these different molecular pathways and their role in the etiology of muscle wasting disorders.

    Research from this laboratory has led to the discovery that…

    • Sarcopenia can be ameliorated in rats by treatment with b2-adrenoceptor agonists
    • Treatment with the cytokine Interleukin-15 or the growth factor insulin-like growth factor-I, improves the function of muscles from dystrophic mice
    • Inhibition of the calcineurin signalling cascade impairs muscle structure and function in young dystrophic mice
    • b2-adrenoceptors are involved in the repair process of muscles after injury and adrenoceptor stimulation via an agonist can speed up recovery from injury

    In addition, work from this laboratory has resulted in a fully optimised electroporation protocol for studying gene expression in skeletal muscle

     

    2009 B&CM Laboratory Research Profiles

    Position Name Location
    Laboratory Head Prof. Gordon Lynch N316
    Senior Research Officer Dr. Jarrod Church N501
    NH&MRC Peter Doherty Fellow Dr. Kate Murphy N501
    Research Officer Dr. Chris van der Poel N501
      Dr. Brendan Adams N501
    Visting Research Fellow Dr. René Koopman N501
      Dr. Bertrand Leger N501
    Lab Manager Ms. Fiona Colarossi N316B
    Postgraduate Students Ms. Leah Harcourt University of Sydney
      Miss. Sarah Turpin Monash University
      Mr. Stefan Gehrig N607
      Mr. Nicolin Tirtaatmadja Dept. of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering
      Mr. Daniel Ham Defense Science and Technology Organisation (DSTO)
      Mr. Marc Nicolas N507B
      Dr. Christine Bailey School of Dentistry, The University of Melbourne
    Research Assistants Mr. Ben Gleeson N316B
      Mr. Tim Naim N316B
      Ms. Jennifer Trieu N316B
    Honours Students Ms Annabel Chee N507B
      Mr Tim Sayer N507B

     

      lab photo  
     

    Basic and Clinical Myology Laboratory (2009) - [Back row, from left] Mr. Tim Naim (research assistant), Mr. Nic Tirtaatmadja (PhD student), Dr. Chris van der Poel (Research Officer), Dr. René Koopman (Research Fellow), Mr. Tim Sayer (Honours student), Mr. Ben Gleeson (research assistant); [Middle row, from left] Ms. Jennifer Trieu (research assistant), Ms Annabel Chee (Honours student), Prof. Gordon Lynch (laboratory head), Ms. Fiona Colarossi (laboratory manager), Mr. Marc Nicolas (PhD student), Dr. Kate Murphy (Research Fellow); [Front row, from left] Dr. Jarrod Church (Senior Research Officer), Mr. Daniel Ham (PhD student), Dr. Brendan Adams (Research Officer), Mr. Stefan Gehrig (PhD student), Dr. Bertrand Leger (Honorary Research Fellow). Absent - Ms. Leah Harcourt (PhD student), Miss. Sarah Turpin (PhD student), .

     

     

    Latest News

    • December 2008
    • Congratulations to Dr. Robert Mayne for successful completion of his Doctor of Clinical Dentistry.
    • Dr. Jonathan Schertzer was awarded the Chancellor’s Prize (Medicine) from the University – based on the quality of the research published from his Ph.D. thesis.
    • Dr. Jonathan Schertzer was awarded the Dean’s Award for Excellence in a Ph.D. thesis.
    • Dr. Jonathan Schertzer was awarded the 2008 Postdoctoral Publication Award from the Australian Physiological Society.
    • Dr. James Ryall was awarded the 2008 A.K. McIntyre Medal from the Australian Physiological Society for outstanding contributions to Australian physiology by a young investigator over their predoctoral and early postdoctoral years.
    • Stefan Gehrig was awarded the best Student Speaker Award at the Australian Physiological Society annual meeting in Melbourne, December 2008
    • Stefan Gehrig was awarded a National Heart Foundation Postgraduate Scholarship
    • Dr. René Koopman was successful in being awarded an Ajinomoto Amino Acid Research Program (3ARP), Ajinomoto, Japan. Project title: Citrulline as a pharmaco-nutrient to attenuate muscle wasting.
    • Dr. Jarrod Church and Prof. Gordon Lynch have been awarded a Rebecca L. Cooper Medical Research Foundation award. Project title: Investigating the potential for erectile dysfunction drugs to enhance the repair of injured skeletal muscles in the elderly.
    • Dr. Kate Murphy was awarded an Australian Association of Gerontology Inc. R.M. Gibson Scientific Research Fund award. Project title: Smad7 over-expression: a novel therapy for attenuating ageing-related muscle weakness.
    • Stefan Gehrig awarded second prize in the Under the Coverslip ~ Imaging and Microscopy Competition for "Where's Wally"
    • Congratulations to Dr. Brendan Adams on successful completion of his PhD.
    • November 2008
    • Dr. René Koopman was awarded the MSD Prijs voor Sportgeneeskunde, for best scientific thesis in the field of Sports Medicine in the Netherlands, Noordwijkerhout, The Netherlands, 2008
    • Dr. René Koopman was awarded the NUTRIM thesis award, for best scientific thesis 2006-2007, Nutrition and Toxicology Research Institute Maastricht, Maastricht, The Netherlands, 2008
    • October 2008
    • HUGE congratulations to all 4 honours students for an excellent honours year that was reflected by 4 H1's. Congratulations to both Radhika and Sarah for getting into Medicine at Deakin, and Jo for accepting an APA scholarship to begin her PhD investigating multiple sclerosis. All the best girls.
    • September 2008
    • Congratulations to Dr. Jarrod Church who has been awarded an Early Career Research Grant from the University of Melbourne
    • August 2008
    • We are extremely proud to report that Dr. Jonathan Schertzer has been awarded the Chancellor’s Prize for Excellence in the Ph.D. Thesis for the Faculties of Medicine, Dentistry and Health Sciences and Veterinary Sciences. Jon’s thesis, "Non-viral gene transfer of growth factors in skeletal muscle: implications for injury, regeneration and disease", has generated many exceptional, high-quality international publications.  The Chancellor's Prize for Excellence in the PhD Thesis is awarded on an annual basis and consists of a medal for desk display. Jon’s success follows on from that of Dr. James Ryall who was awarded the 2007 Chancellor’s Prize for Excellence in the Ph.D. Thesis. Congratulations Jon!

     

     
    A single muscle fibre isolated from a small bundle of rat EDL muscle fibres. The bundle remains intact with the whole EDL muscle.   A single muscle fibre mechanically skinned under paraffin oil (fibre diameter ~ 50 µm). The sarcolemma is 'peeled' back with fine forceps, forming a 'cuff' as it is removed from the fibre.

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

    2009 Student Research Projects

    Ms. Leah Harcourt (PhD project) - Investigating novel agents for ameliorating the pathophysiology of muscular dystrophy.

    Miss. Sarah Turpin (PhD project) - Lipid-induced apoptosis in skeletal muscle.

    Mr. Stefan Gehrig (PhD project) - The role of IGF binding proteins in IGF-I mediated signalling in the mdx dystrophic mouse.

    Mr. Nicolin Tirtaatmadja (PhD project) -Biomolecule Delivery Systems for Tissue Engineering and Skeletal Muscle Regeneration.

    Mr. Daniel Ham (PhD project) - Skeletal muscle modifications with exercise and ergogenic supplements.

    Mr. Marc Nicolas (PhD project) - Role of beta-adrenergic signalling in skeletal muscle regeneration.

    Mr. Tim Sayer (Honours project) - Effect of Hsp70 overexpression on EC coupling of dystrophic mice.

    Ms Annabel Chee (Honours project) - Effect of myostatin inhibition on attenuating cancer cachexia.

     

     

    A single muscle fibre expressing green fluorescent protein. Nuclei have been labelled with ethidium bromide and appear yellow.

     

    Collaborators

    There are many collaborative projects in the laboratory;

    • Dr. Paul Gregorevic (Baker IDI Heart and Diabetes Institute). Gene therapy and skeletal muscle.
    • Dr. Craig Harrison (Prince Henry’s Institute of Medical Research, Victoria, Australia). TGF-beta signalling in muscular dystrophy.
    • Dr. Aaron Russell (School of Exercise and Nutrition Sciences, Deakin University, Victoria, Australia). Role of Notch signalling in muscle health and disease.
    • Dr. Stéphane Walrand & Prof. Yves Boirie (Human Nutrition, Unit, INRA Clermont-Ferrand, France). Citrulline as a pharmaco-nutrient to attenuate muscle wasting.
    • Prof. Luc Cynober (Nutrition Laboratory, Pharmacy Faculty, University of Paris). Citrulline as a pharmaco-nutrient to attenuate muscle wasting.
    • Prof. João Bizario (Associação de Amigos dos Portadores de Distrofia Muscular, São Paulo, Brazil). Characterisation of the Golden Retriver model of muscular dystrophy.
    • Prof. Miranda Grounds (University of Western Australia). Functional regeneration in skeletal muscles during ageing and in muscular dystrophy.
    • Prof. Mark Hargreaves (Department of Physiology, The University of Melbourne). Functional and metabolic characteristics of artificial skeletal muscles.
    • Dr. Glenn McConnell (Department of Physiology, The University of Melbourne). nNOS signalling in skeletal muscle regeneration.
    • Assoc. Prof. Edna Hardeman & Dr. Anthony Kee (Department of Anatomy, School of Medical Sciences, University of New South Wales, Sydney). Role of cytoskeletal proteins in skeletal muscle contraction.
    • Prof. David A. Williams (Department of Physiology, The University of Melbourne). In situ and in vitro skeletal muscle calcium imaging.
    • Prof. Bruce E. Kemp, Dr. Belinda Michell & Dr. Greg Steinberg (St. Vincent’s Hospital Research Institute, The University of Melbourne). AMP-kinase during intense muscle activity; calcineurin activity in skeletal muscle; aging and skeletal muscle metabolism.
    • Prof. Wayne A. Morrison (Bernard O’Brien Institute for Microsurgery, The University of Melbourne). Improving skeletal muscle repair after ischaemia-reperfusion injury.
    • Prof. George E. Muscat (Institute for Molecular Bioscience, The University of Queensland). Nuclear hormone receptors and skeletal muscle.
    • Prof. Eric Olson & Assoc. Prof. Rhonda Bassel-Duby (University of Texas-Southwestern, U.S.A.). Role of the calcineurin signal transduction pathway in muscle regeneration and muscular dystrophy.
    • Prof. Martin N. Sillence (Queensland University of Technology, Qld.). b2-adrenoceptors, b2-agonists and skeletal muscle function.
    • Prof. Geoff W. Stevens & Dr. Andrea O'Connor (Department of Chemical & Biomolecular Engineering, The University of Melbourne). Interactions between the interfaces of solid-liquid and liquid-liquid systems for the dispersion of novel growth factors.
    • Assoc. Prof. Matthew J. Watt (Department of Physiology, Monash University). Molecular and cell biology of lipid metabolism.
    • Prof. Michael G. Woods (School of Dentistry, The University of Melbourne). Functional properties of human facial muscles and their relation to clinical dentistry.
    • Prof. Jeffrey Zajac & Dr. Helen Maclean (Department of Medicine Austin and Repatriation Hospital). Androgens and skeletal muscle function.
    • Assoc. Prof. Luc Gosselin (Exercise and Nutrition Sciences, University at Buffalo, The State University of New York). Ageing, inflammation and muscle repair.
    • Prof. Mark Febbraio (Baker IDI Heart and Diabetes Institute). Role of heat shock proteins in muscle damage and repair in muscular dystrophy.

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    Tibialis anterior muscles of control and IGF-I treated mice stained for laminin and visualised using fluorescence microscopy. Note the increase in fibre size associated with IGF-I treatment in the right panel.

     

    Current Funding Sources

    Year

    Title

    Funding

    Recipient

    2009 Targeting the TGF-β signalling pathway to improve muscle growth and development in muscular dystrophy NHMRC G.S. Lynch, C.A. Harrison, P. Gregorevic
      The role of Notch signalling in muscular dystrophy NHMRC G.S. Lynch, A.P. Russell
      Preclinical evaluation of muscular dystrophies as target diseases for RO5046013 Hoffmann-La Roche Ltd G.S. Lynch
      Investigating the potential for erectile dysfunction drugs to enhance the repair of injured skeletal muscles in the elderly Rebecca L. Cooper Medical Research Foundation J.E. Church. G.S. Lynch
      Smad7 over-expression: a novel therapy for attenuating ageing-related muscle weakness R.M. Gibson Scientific Research Fund K.M. Murphy
      Skeletal muscle modifications with exercise and ergogenic supplements DSTO, Human Protection and Performance Division M. Hargreaves, G.S. Lynch
      Citrulline as a pharmaco-nutrient to attenuate muscle wasting 3ARP, Ajinomoto, Japan. R. Koopman
     

    Manipulating the Notch signalling pathway to treat Muscular Dystrophy

    The University of Melbourne J.E. Church
    2008

    Therapeutic potential of a new generation b-agonist, formoterol, to attenuate muscle wasting, enhance muscle regeneration and improve function in muscle diseases

    AFM G.S. Lynch

     

    Targeting b-adrenergic signalling to improve muscle regeneration in muscular dystrophy

    NHMRC

    G.S. Lynch, P. Gregorevic

     

    Understanding IGF-I signalling to improve muscular dystrophy

    The University of Melbourne

    C. van der Poel

     

    Role of calcium regulation in ageing-related loss of muscle function

    The University of Melbourne

    K.T. Murphy

    2007

    Regulating calcium handling in skeletal muscle: Implications for muscle contraction, injury and repair, ageing and development.

    ARC

    G.S. Lynch, D.A. Williams

     

    Improving muscle function after injury: Novel tissue engineering strategies for exercise, surgery and sports medicine.

    NHMRC

    G.S. Lynch, W.A. Morrison, G.W. Stevens

     

    The role of b-adrenergic signalling in regenerating skeletal muscle

    The University of Melbourne

    J.G. Ryall

    2006

    Growth factor therapy for improving muscle function in muscular dystrophy

    MDA (USA)

    G.S. Lynch

     

    Examination of the efficacy and safety of novel approaches designed to combat skeletal muscle wasting, muscle atrophy and weakness

    Pfizer Inc. (USA)

    G.S. Lynch

     

    Modulating the molecular and cellular physiology of ageing skeletal muscle

    ARC

    G.S. Lynch

     

     

    Day 1 Day 2 Day 3 Day 4 Day 5
    H & E stained sections from the TA muscles of mice following injury with myotoxic agent Notexin. Note the slow degeneration of muscle fibres during the first 3 days of regeneration, followed by the appearance of centrally nucleated fibres at day 4 and 5.

     

    Recent B&CM Laboratory Publications

    Click on author to link to abstract (** access to full text available)

    2009

    Porrello ER, Bell JR, Schertzer JD, Curl CL, McMullen JR, Mellor KM, Ritchie RH, Lynch GS, Harrap SB, Thomas WG, Delbridge LM. (2009). HERITABLE PATHOLOGIC CARDIAC HYPERTROPHY IN ADULTHOOD IS PRECEDED BY NEONATAL CARDIAC GROWTH RESTRICTION. Am J Physiol Regul Integr Comp Physiol. (in press)

    2008

    Lynch GS. (2008). Update on emerging drugs for sarcopenia - age-related muscle wasting. Expert Opin Emerg Drugs.13(4): 655-73.

    Vlahovich N, Kee AJ, Van der Poel C, Kettle E, Hernandez-Deviez D, Lucas C, Lynch GS, Parton RG, Gunning PW, Hardeman EC. (2008). Cytoskeletal Tropomyosin Tm5NM1 Is Required for Normal Excitation-contraction Coupling in Skeletal Muscle. Mol Biol Cell. (in press).

    van der Poel C, Edwards JN, Macdonald WA, Stephenson DG. (2008). Effect of temperature-induced reactive oxygen species production on excitation-contraction coupling in mammalian skeletal muscle. Clin Exp Pharmacol Physiol. 35(12):1482-7.

    MacLean, H.E., Chiu, M.W.S., Notini, A.J., Axell, A-M, Davey, R.A., McManus, J.F., Ma, C., Plant, D.R., Lynch, G.S. & Zajac, J.D. (2008). Impaired skeletal muscle mass and function in male but not female androgen receptor knockout mice. FASEB J. 22: 2676-2689

    Dzamko N, Schertzer JD, Ryall JG, Steel R, Macaulay SL, Wee S, Chen ZP, Michell BJ, Oakhill JS, Watt MJ, Jørgensen SB, Lynch GS, Kemp BE, Steinberg GR. (2008). AMPK-independent pathways regulate skeletal muscle fatty acid oxidation. J Physiol. 586(Pt 23): 5819-31.

    Pearen, M.A., Myers, S., Ryall, J.G., Lynch, G.S. & Muscat, G.E.O. (2008). The orphan nuclear receptor, NOR-1, regulates gene expression that controls oxidative metabolism in skeletal muscle. Endocrinology. 149: 2853-2865

    Ryall JG, Lynch GS. (2008). The potential and the pitfalls of beta-adrenoceptor agonists for the management of skeletal muscle wasting. Pharmacol Ther. 120(3) :219-32.

    Schertzer JD. & Lynch GS. (2008). Plasmid-based gene transfer in mouse skeletal muscle by electroporation. Methods Mol Biol. 433: 115-25.

    Gehrig SM, Ryall JG, Schertzer JD, Lynch GS. (2008). IGF-I analogue protects muscles of dystrophic mdx mice from contraction-mediated damage. Exp. Physiol. (in press).

    Lynch GS, Faulkner JA, Brooks SV. (2008). Force deficits and breakage rates after single lengthening contractions of single fast fibers from unconditioned and conditioned muscles of young and old rats. Am. J. Physiol. Cell Physiol. 295: C249-C256.

    Grounds MD, Radley HG, Lynch GS, Nagaraju K, De Luca A. (2008). Towards developing standard operating procedures for pre-clinical testing in the mdx mouse model of Duchenne muscular dystrophy. Neurobiol Dis. 31: 1-19.

    Lynch GS, Schertzer JD, Ryall JG. (2008). Anabolic agents for improving muscle regeneration and function after injury. Clin. Exper. Pharmacol. Physiol. 35: 852-858.

    Ryall JG, Schertzer JD, Murphy KT, Allen AM & Lynch GS (2008). Chronic b2-adrenoceptor stimulation impairs cardiac relaxation via reduced SR Ca2+-ATPase activity. Am. J. Physiol. Heart Circ. Physiol.294: H2587-H2595.

    Ryall JG, Schertzer JD, Alabakis TM, Gehrig SM, Plant DR & Lynch GS (2008). Intramuscular b2-agonist administration enhances regeneration and functional repair after myotoxic injury in rat skeletal muscle. J. Appl. Physiol.105: 165-172.

    **Ryall JG, Schertzer JD & Lynch GS (2008). Cellular and molecular mechanisms underlying age-related skeletal muscle wasting and weakness. Biogerontol.9: 213-228.

    Stupka N, Schertzer JD, Bassel-Duby R, Olson EN & Lynch GS (2008). Stimulation of calcineurin-Aa activity attenuates muscle pathophysiology in mdx dystrophic mice. Am. J. Physiol. Reg. Int. Comp. Physiol. 294: R983-R992.

    Schertzer JD*, van der Poel C*, Shavlakadze T, Grounds MD & Lynch GS (2008). Muscle specific overexpression of IGF-I improves E-C coupling in skeletal muscle fibers from dystrophic mdx mice. Am. J. Physiol. Cell. Physiol. 294:C161-168. [*- these authors contributed equally to this manuscript]

    **Lynch GS & Ryall JG (2008). Role of b-adrenoceptor signaling in skeletal muscle: Implications for muscle wasting and disease. Physiol. Rev. 88:729-767.

    Book Chapters

    Schertzer JD, & Lynch GS (2008). Methods for optimising non-viral ectopic gene expression in normal and regenerating muscle. In (ed) Le Doux JM Gene Therapy Protocols Humana Press, 115-125.

    2007

    Beitzel F, Sillence MN & Lynch GS (2007). b-adrenoceptor signaling in regenerating skeletal muscle after b-agonist administraion. Am. J. Physiol. Endocrinol. Metab. 293: E932-E940.

    Schertzer JD*, Gehrig SM*, Ryall JG & Lynch GS (2007). Modulation of IGF-I and IGFBP interactions enhances skeletal muscle regeneration and ameliorates the dystrophic pathology in mdx mice. Am. J. Pathol. 171: 1180-1188. [*- these authors contributed equally to this manuscript]

    Ryall JG, Schertzer JD & Lynch GS (2007). Attenuation of age-related muscle wasting and weakness in rats after formoterol treatment: therapeutic implications for sarcopenia. J. Gerontol. Series A. 62: 813-823.

    Stupka N, Schertzer JD, Bassel-Duby R, Olson EN & Lynch GS (2007). Calcineurin-Aa activation enhances the structure and function of regenerating muscles after myotoxic injury. Am. J. Physiol. Reg. Int. Comp. Physiol. 293: R686-R694.

    Lynch GS, Schertzer JD & Ryall JG (2007). Therapeutic approaches for muscle wasting disorders. Pharmacol. Ther. 113: 461-487.

    **Harcourt LJ, Schertzer JD, Ryall JG & Lynch GS (2007). Low dose formoterol administration improves muscle function in dystrophic mdx mice without increasing fatigue. Neuromusc. Disord. 17: 47-55.

     

     

     

    Experimental Techniques

    Muscle functional testing

    Intact skeletal muscles – We examine the contractile properties of different muscles of rats or mice using in situ (with an intact nerve and blood supply) or in vitro methods. The muscles most commonly assessed are the extensor digitorum longus (EDL) representative of a fast-twitch muscle and the soleus muscle which is representative of a slow-twitch muscle. We typically assess the tibialis anterior muscle using an in situ approach and study the contractile properties of isolated diaphragm muscle strips in vitro.

    Single muscle fibres (cells) – Segments of single muscle cells (i.e. muscle fibres) can be carefully dissected from intact muscles (of rats and mice) or from open- or needle-biopsies from animals or humans. We attach these isolated muscle fibre segments to sensitive force transducers and servomotors to assess the contractile properties of skeletal muscle at the cellular level.

    Muscle histology Cell Culture Muscle biochemistry Muscle gene expression
    Haematoxylin & Eosin (H&E) stain - muscle structure, muscle fibre cross sectional area, regions of muscle degeneration, central nucleation Proliferation and differentiation assays Oxidative enzymes - succinate dehydrogenase, catalase, glutathione peroxidase, superoxide dismutase Real Time quantitative PCR (RT-PCR)
    Van Gieson's/Masson's Trichrome stain - qualitative analysis of collagen and connective tissue infiltration

    Cell lines - (C2C12 & L6) and primary myoblasts

    Mitochondrial enzymes - citrate synthase Electroporation of proteins/plasmids

    Immunohistochemistry - intracellular localization of proteins

    Immunocytochemistry - intracellular localization of proteins

    Myosin ATPase reactivity  
        Sarco-Endoplasmic reticulum Ca2+ ATPase activity  
        Radioimmunoassay for b-adrenoceptors  
        Western blotting  

     

     

    H & E stained sections from the tibialis anterior (TA) muscles of control, and mdx mice. Note the irregular sized fibres in the TA muscle of the mdx mouse and the centrally located nuclei, which is indicative of regenerating skeletal muscle fibres.

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

    24 hours 48 hours   72 hours 92 hours
    24 hours 48 hours   72 hours 96 hours

    Myoblasts differentiating into myotubes in culture. To form new muscle, myoblasts (muscle precursor cells) proliferate and then fuse together to form multinucleated muscle fibres. We can examine the ability of various therapeutic compounds to enhance either myoblast proliferation or myoblast fusion.

     

    Current Animal Models

     

    The laboratory utilises a number of animal models to study muscular dystrophy and ageing, including;

    • mdx - the mdx mouse arose from a spontaneous mutation in the gene encoding the dystrophin gene (located on the X chromosome) in the C57Bl10 mouse. The mdx mouse is the most commonly studied model of Duchene muscular dystrophy (DMD).
    • Adrb null - we have recently acquired mice that are gentically null for the β1-adrenoceptor (Adrb1-/-), the β2-adrenoceptor (Adrb2-/-), or both (Adrb1/2-/-)
    • dko - the utrophin null dystrophic mdx mouse (mdx/utrn-/-) known as the double knock out (dko) mouse. dko mice lack both dystrophin and utrophin (structural/signalling proteins linked to the muscle membrane) which causes muscular dystrophy similar to humans suffering DMD.
    • F344 - the Fischer 344 (F344) rat is traditionally used in studies investigating the effect of ageing on skeletal muscle. The F344 rat is generally considered ‘old’ after the age of 24 months, and shows severe age related muscle wasting and weakness (termed ‘sarcopenia’) after the age of 28 months.

     

    Contractile traces from extensor digitorum longus (EDL) muscles from young (12 week old) and old (28 month old) F344 rats. Note the reduced maximum force in the old muscle, and the prolongation of relaxation.

    Alumni

    Postdoctoral Researchers:

    • Dr. Paul Gregorevic (Pfizer Australia Senior Research Fellow, Laboratory for Muscle Research and Therapeutics Development, The Baker Heart Research Institute, Melbourne, VIC, Australia)
    • Dr. David R. Plant (Senior Regulatory Affairs Associate, CSL Limited, Melbourne, VIC, Australia)
    • Dr. Jonathan D. Schertzer (NSERC Research Fellow, The Hospital for Sick Children, Ontario, Canada)
    • Dr. James G. Ryall (CJ Martin Fellow, The Laboratory of Muscle Stem Cells and Gene Regulation, NIH, MD, USA)

    Ph.D. students:

    • Dr. Noel D. Duncan (Executive Director, Health1st Pty. Ltd. T/A Fitness2live, London, UK)
    • Dr. Siun P. O'Sullivan (Lecturer, Biomedical Sciences, Victoria University of Technology, Melbourne, VIC, Australia)
    • Dr. Paul Gregorevic (Pfizer Australia Senior Research Fellow, Laboratory for Muscle Research and Therapeutics Development, The Baker Heart Research Institute, Melbourne, VIC, Australia)
    • Dr. David R. Plant (Senior Regulatory Affairs Associate, CSL Limited, Melbourne, VIC, Australia)
    • Dr. James G. Ryall (CJ Martin Fellow, The Laboratory of Muscle Stem Cells and Gene Regulation, NIH, MD, USA)
    • Dr. Nicole Stupka (Peter Doherty Fellow, Deakin University, Melbourne, VIC, Australia)
    • Dr. Jonathan D. Schertzer (Postdoctoral Researcher, The Hospital for Sick Children, Ontario, Canada)
    • Dr. Felice Beitzel (training for the Winter Olympics in Bend, Oregon)

    B.Sc. (Honours) students:

    Miss. Vera Cobani (2006) Mr. Tennent Emerson (2004) Ms. Leah Harcourt (2001) Dr. Camdon Fary (1997)
    Mr. Stefan Gehrig (2006) Ms. Fiona Colarossi (2003) Dr. James Ryall (2001) Miss. Radhika Sheorey
    Mr. Lawrence Nair (2006) Dr. Anna-Greer Holmes (2002) Mr. Scott Cuffe (1999) Miss. Sarah Snell
    Miss. Su-Ann Tan (2006) Dr. Felice Beitzel (2002) Mr. Ben Metcalf (1999) Miss. Jo Stratton
    Miss. Tammy Alabakis (2005) Miss. Hayley Seadon (2001) Mrs. Anne Coco (1998) Miss. Hui Qing Lim

     

    Visitors/Sabbaticals

    November-April 2000: Prof. Bartley R. Frueh, Kellogg Eye Center, Department of Ophthalmology, The University of Michigan.

    November-April 2006: A/Prof. Luc Gosselin, Department of Exercise and Nutrition Sciences, University at Buffalo The State University of New York.

    November 2007: Prof. John A. Faulkner, Institute of Gerontology and Departments of Physiology and Biomedical Engineering, The University of Michigan .

     

     

     

    Links

    Internal External
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    Staff Webmail Chemwatch (online MSDS)
    Themis National Health and Medical Research Council (NHMRC)
    Chemistry Store Australian Research Council (ARC)
    IT Support  

    Want to learn more?

    For more information about potential opportunities to work/study in the Basic and Clinical Myology Laboratory, contact:

    Professor Gordon Lynch OR Dr. Chris van der Poel
    Tel: (+613) 8344 0065 Tel: (+613) 8344 8503
    Email: gsl@unimelb.edu.au Email: cvdp@unimelb.edu.au

     

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