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Exercise conditioning in old mice improves skeletal muscle regeneration
Sophie Joanisse1, Joshua P Nederveen1, Jeff M Baker1
1Department of Kinesiology, McMaster University, Hamilton, Ontario, Canada; and.
Summary
Exercise training improved skeletal muscle regeneration in aged mice, restoring fiber size and enhancing satellite cell content. This suggests exercise can counteract age-related decline in muscle repair capabilities.
Area of Science:
- Muscle physiology
- Aging research
- Regenerative medicine
Background:
- Skeletal muscle regeneration declines with age.
- Exercise is a known stimulus for muscle adaptation.
- The impact of exercise on aged muscle regeneration is not fully understood.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate if exercise training can enhance skeletal muscle regeneration in aged mice.
- To compare the regenerative capacity of exercised aged mice with sedentary aged and young mice.
Main Methods:
- Twenty-two-month-old mice underwent 8 weeks of progressive exercise.
- Cardiotoxin was injected into the tibialis anterior muscle to induce injury.
- Muscle tissue was analyzed at baseline, 10 days, and 28 days post-injury.
Main Results:
- Muscle fiber cross-sectional area was reduced at 10 days post-injury in all groups.
- Fiber size was restored in exercised aged mice and young mice by 28 days.
- Satellite cell content was significantly higher in exercised aged mice at baseline compared to sedentary aged mice.
Conclusions:
- Exercise conditioning improves the regenerative capacity of skeletal muscle in aged mice.
- Exercise may help mitigate age-related deficits in muscle repair.
- Regular exercise could be a strategy to maintain muscle health in older individuals.
