Skeletal Muscle Transcriptome Alterations Related to Declining Physical Function in Older Mice

One inevitable consequence of aging is the gradual deterioration physical function and exercise capacity, driven in part by adverse effect age on muscle tissue. We hypothesized that relationships exist between age-related differentially expressed genes (DEGs) skeletal age-associated declines capacity. Previously, male C57BL/6mice (6m, months old, 24m, 28m) were tested for using a composite scoring system (comprehensive functional assessment battery, CFAB) comprised five well-validated tests function. In this study, total RNA was isolated from tibialis anterior samples (n = 8) randomly selected each group parent study. Using Next Generation Sequencing RNAseq to determine DEGs during (6m vs. 28m, 6m 24m), we found greater than five-fold increase 28m compared 24m. Furthermore, regression normalized expression DEG with CFAB score corresponding mouse revealed many more strongly associated (R ≥ |0.70|) status older mice. Gene ontology results indicate highly enriched axon guidance acetyl choline receptor gene sets, suggesting denervation/reinnervation flux might potentially play critical role decline. conclude specific patterns are function, data suggest accelerated occurring 24 28 months.