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Related Concept Videos

Mitochondria01:37

Mitochondria

Mitochondria are eukaryotic cellular organelles that are known to produce energy through a process called oxidative phosphorylation. Besides their primary function, mitochondria are involved in various cellular processes, including cell growth, differentiation, signaling, metabolism, and senescence. Age-related changes cause a decline in mitochondrial quality and integrity due to increased mitochondrial mutations and oxidative damage. Thus, aging can severely impact mitochondrial functions,...

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Related Experiment Video

Updated: May 16, 2026

Measurement of Mitochondrial Respiration in Human and Mouse Skeletal Muscle Fibers by High-Resolution Respirometry
08:12

Measurement of Mitochondrial Respiration in Human and Mouse Skeletal Muscle Fibers by High-Resolution Respirometry

Published on: October 4, 2024

Sex differences in mitochondrial function in aging mouse skeletal muscle.

Angelina Holcom1,2, Ashley Liao1,2, Kaitlyn G Holden2,3

  • 1Buck Institute for Research on Aging, Novato, CA, United States.

Frontiers in Aging
|May 15, 2026
PubMed
Summary
This summary is machine-generated.

Skeletal muscle mitochondria age differently in males and females. Aged females showed lower respiration, while males had higher mitochondrial DNA, indicating sex-specific aging patterns.

Keywords:
alkaline comet assayflexor digitorum brevis (FDB)mitochondria bioenergeticsmitochondrial DNA copy numbersex differencesskeletal muscle aging

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Last Updated: May 16, 2026

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Area of Science:

  • Aging research
  • Mitochondrial biology
  • Sex differences in aging

Background:

  • Sex differences in lifespan and aging phenotypes are common but poorly understood.
  • Mitochondrial dysfunction is a key aspect of aging, but its sex-specific role in skeletal muscle is unclear.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate sex-specific aging trajectories of skeletal muscle mitochondria.
  • To analyze mitochondrial bioenergetics and DNA integrity in male and female mice across the lifespan.
  • To assess sex-dependent changes in mitochondrial gene expression and DNA damage responses.

Main Methods:

  • Mitochondrial bioenergetics and DNA integrity were profiled in flexor digitorum brevis (FDB) muscle from young and aged male and female mice.
  • Quantified cellular respiration in intact myofibers and measured mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) copy number.
  • Assessed gene expression related to mitochondrial dynamics, electron transport chain (ETC) function, and mtDNA maintenance, alongside DNA damage response in leukocytes.

Main Results:

  • Cellular respiration differed by sex and changed with age in a sex-dependent manner; aged females had lower basal and ATP-linked respiration but higher spare respiratory capacity than aged males.
  • Mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) copy number increased with age in both sexes, with a more significant increase observed in aged males.
  • Gene expression showed sex- and/or age-dependent changes, with lower PINK1 in females and increased POLG2 in males; young females exhibited greater inducible DNA damage in blood leukocytes.

Conclusions:

  • Skeletal muscle mitochondria undergo sex- and age-specific remodeling.
  • Sex is a critical biological variable influencing mitochondrial aging and DNA damage responses.
  • These findings highlight the need to consider sex in aging research and interventions.