Figure 2
From: Bezafibrate attenuates immobilization-induced muscle atrophy in mice
Bezafibrate reduces immobilization- but not denervation-induced muscle atrophy in mice. Nine-week-old C57BL/6 mice were treated with No.001, No.003 (bezafibrate) or vehicle once daily for eight days, and staple fixation or sciatic nerve denervation surgery (DEN) was performed on left hind limbs on day two. On day nine, mice were sacrificed and gastrocnemius and quadriceps muscles were harvested. Right hind limbs served as controls (sham-operated) (n = 5, each group). Wet weights of gastrocnemius (a,c) and quadriceps (b,d) muscle adjusted to body weight in the stapled plus drug conditions (No.001, (a,b); No.003, (c,d)) versus the control side were analyzed. Wet weights of gastrocnemius (e) and quadriceps (f) muscle adjusted to body weight in the denervated plus No.003 condition versus the sham side are shown. Representative data of two independent experiments are shown. (*P < 0.05; ***P < 0.001 by Student’s t-test). (g–j) Relative mean cross-sectional areas (CSA) of gastrocnemius (g) and quadriceps (i) muscles from mice treated with bezafibrate, with or without staple fixation. (**P < 0.01; ***P < 0.001 by Student’s t-test). Boxplot of CSA of gastrocnemius (h) and quadriceps (j) muscles from same mice. CSA was measured at three randomly selected regions. The number of myofibers evaluated per mouse in the vehicle group was 178–294 or 132–401 in gastrocnemius or quadriceps, respectively. In the bezafibrate group it was 164–266 or 134–230 in gastrocnemius or quadriceps. (g–j). (k,l) Hematoxylin and eosin staining of gastrocnemius (k) and quadriceps (l) muscles. Scale bar, 100 µm.
