Dystrophy of the Diaphragmatic Muscles in Adult Meuse-Rhine-Yssel Cattle: Electromyographical and Histological Findings

Electromyographic investigation of diaphragmatic muscles of Meuse-Rhine-Yssel cattle revealed a significant decreased duration of action potentials, while the number of polyphasic potentials was increased in four of seven cows. Histologically, the diaphragmatic muscles in all cows were affected severely, as characterized by variation in size of individual fibers, abundant vacuolar and hyaline degeneration with occasional fragmentation and phagocytosis, fiber splitting, apparent increase in internal nuclei, vesicular nuclei, chains of central nuclei, absence of regeneration, and proliferation of endomysial and perimysial connective tissue. Core-like structures seemed to be a hallmark of the disease. The intercostal muscles in all cows had core-like structures and some variation in fiber size; degenerative lesions did occur, but were less severe than in diaphragmatic muscles. In other skeletal muscles and cardiac muscles, core-like structures were present predominantly, indicating a generalized muscle disorder. No lesions were detected in the peripheral or central nervous systems. The muscular alterations were classified as a progressive muscular dystrophy, with a suspicion of hereditary transmission. This dystrophy may be an important animal model.