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Updated: May 23, 2026

Assessing Functional Performance in the Mdx Mouse Model

Assessing Functional Performance in the Mdx Mouse Model

Published on: March 27, 2014

Exercise training improves plantar flexor muscle function in mdx mice.

Kristen A Baltgalvis¹, Jarrod A Call, Gregory D Cochrane

¹Rehabilitation Science, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN, USA.

Medicine and Science in Sports and Exercise

|March 31, 2012

Summary

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Low-intensity exercise in mdx mice improved muscle function and reduced fatigue without worsening muscular dystrophy. This suggests potential therapeutic benefits for Duchenne muscular dystrophy patients.

Area of Science:

Exercise Physiology
Muscle Biology
Animal Models of Disease

Background:

Muscular dystrophy, including Duchenne muscular dystrophy (DMD), is characterized by progressive muscle weakness and degeneration.
Current therapeutic strategies for DMD are limited, highlighting the need for novel interventions.
Understanding the effects of exercise in dystrophic models is crucial for developing safe and effective rehabilitation protocols.

Purpose of the Study:

To investigate the effects of low-intensity exercise on muscle function and mitochondrial adaptations in mdx mice, a model for DMD.
To determine if exercise exacerbates muscular dystrophy pathology in mdx mice.
To assess the impact of exercise on fatigue resistance and muscle fiber characteristics.

Main Methods:

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Evaluation of Muscle Function of the Extensor Digitorum Longus Muscle Ex vivo and Tibialis Anterior Muscle In situ in Mice

Evaluation of Muscle Function of the Extensor Digitorum Longus Muscle Ex vivo and Tibialis Anterior Muscle In situ in Mice

Published on: February 9, 2013

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Last Updated: May 23, 2026

Assessing Functional Performance in the Mdx Mouse Model

Assessing Functional Performance in the Mdx Mouse Model

Published on: March 27, 2014

Non-invasive Assessment of Dorsiflexor Muscle Function in Mice

Non-invasive Assessment of Dorsiflexor Muscle Function in Mice

Published on: January 17, 2019

Evaluation of Muscle Function of the Extensor Digitorum Longus Muscle Ex vivo and Tibialis Anterior Muscle In situ in Mice

Evaluation of Muscle Function of the Extensor Digitorum Longus Muscle Ex vivo and Tibialis Anterior Muscle In situ in Mice

Published on: February 9, 2013

mdx mice were subjected to 12 weeks of voluntary low-resistance wheel running or remained sedentary.

Plantar flexor muscle contractile function, fatigue resistance, and running capacity were assessed in vivo.

Gastrocnemius muscles were analyzed for mitochondrial enzyme activity, protein expression, fiber type distribution, and central nuclei.

Main Results:

Exercise-trained mdx mice exhibited improved plantar flexor torque generation and greater resistance to fatigue compared to sedentary controls.
Mitochondrial enzyme activities (citrate synthase, A-hydroxyacyl-CoA dehydrogenase) and cytochrome c oxidase IV expression were elevated in trained mice.
Exercise did not increase serum creatine kinase levels and led to a reduction in centrally nucleated myofibers, indicating no detrimental effect on muscle integrity.

Conclusions:

Voluntary low-intensity wheel running improves skeletal muscle function and reduces fatigability in mdx mice.
Exercise in mdx mice demonstrated beneficial adaptations without exacerbating the disease.
These findings support further research into low-intensity exercise as an early therapeutic intervention for ambulatory boys with Duchenne muscular dystrophy.