Investigation of Phenotypic Plasticity of the Caudofemoralis Longus Muscle in the American Alligator.

Mammalian skeletal muscle shows muscle plasticity in response to loading and unloading conditions, resulting in hypertrophy and atrophy, respectively. Reptiles, in contrast, show no apparent muscle plasticity, but little experimental research has been conducted to validate such claims. My project investigates changes to muscle fiber phenotype of the caudofemoralis longus (CFL) muscle in the American Alligator (Alligator mississippiensis), as introduced by surgical tenotomy. In particular, I will be looking at shifts in muscle fiber type, to see whether they parallel the behavior of mammalian muscle during unloading. This project may identify a new non-traditional animal model for prevention of muscle wasting in bedridden or dystrophic human patients, or during spaceflight