Electrical stimulation plus a drug to reduce muscle fat and wasting after a rotator cuff tear
Treatment of Rabbit Rotator Cuff Fatty Infiltration and Atrophy with Electric Stimulation and a PDGFRa inhibitor
This work tests whether gentle electrical pulses together with a medicine that blocks PDGFRα can prevent fatty change and muscle wasting after a torn rotator cuff to help people with large shoulder tendon injuries.
Quick facts
| Grant type | NIH-funded research |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Baltimore VA Medical Center NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Baltimore, United States) |
| Project ID | NIH-11306035 on NIH RePORTER |
What this research studies
Researchers are using a rabbit model that mimics large, irreparable rotator cuff tears to try two treatments: a PDGFRα-blocking drug and direct, submaximal electrical stimulation of the muscle. They will give treatments either at the time of tendon tear or after fatty infiltration and atrophy have already developed to see if the changes can be prevented or reversed. Outcomes include muscle fatty infiltration, muscle size and function, tendon healing, and animal gait to approximate shoulder function. If the combination works in rabbits, the results would inform whether similar approaches might be tested in people with severe rotator cuff injuries.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: People with large or chronic rotator cuff tears and significant muscle fatty infiltration would be the eventual candidates for related treatments informed by this work.
Not a fit: Because this research is being done in rabbits, people cannot join this project and will not receive direct treatment benefits during the study.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, the approach could reduce muscle fatty degeneration and atrophy after rotator cuff tears and improve shoulder strength and repair success.
How similar studies have performed: Electrical stimulation and molecular targeting have shown benefit in preclinical muscle models, but combining PDGFRα inhibition with direct muscle stimulation is a novel approach not yet proven in humans.
Where this research is happening
Baltimore, United States
- Baltimore VA Medical Center — Baltimore, United States (Active)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Gilotra, Mohit — Baltimore VA Medical Center
- Study coordinator: Gilotra, Mohit
About this research
- This is an active NIH-funded research project — typically early-stage science, not a clinical trial accepting patient enrollment.
- Some NIH-funded labs run parallel clinical studies or seek volunteers for related work. To check, contact the principal investigator or institution listed above.
- For full project details, budget, and progress reports, visit the official NIH RePORTER page below.