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Abstract
Objective. The objective of this research was to create and characterize an animal model of muscle weakness for future use in the study of the pathogenesis of idiopathic and post-traumatic osteoarthritis.
Specific aim #1. Using skeletally mature female New Zealand white rabbits, objective and functional measures will be made comparing quadriceps muscle strengths in injected versus non-injected hindlimbs.
Specific aim #2. Using skeletally mature female New Zealand white rabbits, objective strength measurements will be obtained to characterize drug induced weakness over a range of physiological and non-physiological stimulation frequencies and quadriceps muscle lengths.
Specific aim #3. Using skeletally mature female New Zealand White rabbits, objective measures of joint function will be made comparing ACL transected knees to those knees having received BTX-A injection (quadriceps) in addition to ACL transection. (Abstract shortened by UMI.)
