Viscoelastic characterization by elastimetry in mouse muscle cells without synemin

Muscular dystrophies are genetic diseases caused by the deficiency or absence of proteins in muscle cells, generating, among others, alterations in the viscoelastic properties of the muscular fibers. This leads to deficiencies in muscle force transmis-sion ending in muscular weakness. We characterized the elastic module and viscosity of the sarcolemma of the extensor digitorum longus in healthy and synemin-null fibers using a solid viscoelastic model. Results showed that healthy fibers are more rigid and viscous than synemin-null ones, which could explain the decrease in force in muscle those patients with this kind of muscular dystrophy.