Journal article

Activated calcineurin ameliorates contraction-induced injury to skeletal muscles of mdx dystrophic mice

Nicole Stupka, David R Plant, Jonathan D Schertzer, Tennent M Emerson, Rhonda Bassel-Duby, Eric N Olson, Gordon S Lynch

JOURNAL OF PHYSIOLOGY-LONDON | WILEY | Published : 2006

Abstract

Utrophin expression is regulated by calcineurin and up-regulating utrophin can decrease the susceptibility of dystrophic skeletal muscle to contraction-induced injury. We overexpressed the constitutively active calcineurin-A alpha in skeletal muscle of mdx dystrophic mice (mdx CnA*) and examined the tibialis anterior muscle to determine whether the presence of activated calcineurin promotes resistance to muscle damage after lengthening contractions. Two stretches (10 s apart) of 40% strain relative to muscle fibre length were initiated from the plateau of a maximal isometric tetanic contraction. Muscle damage was assessed 1, 5 and 15 min later by the deficit in maximum isometric force and by..

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