Fig. 5

Effects of adiponectin on global force, resistance and muscle injury in mdx mice. Functional in vivo studies were carried out in mice from the three groups. a The animals were subjected to a wire test where they were suspended by their forelimbs and the time until they completely released the wire and fell down was recorded (seconds). b, c The mice were also lowered on a grid connected to a sensor to measure the muscle force of their forelimbs (b) or of both fore- and hindlimbs (c); data were then expressed in gram-force relative to body weight (gf/g BW). d Mice were submitted to a downhill treadmill exercise for 10 min during three consecutive days. On the 3rd session, the covered distance (meters) were measured for each mouse, 100 m being the maximal distance. Muscle injury was assessed by plasma activity of CK and LDH expressed as IU/L (basal state) (e, f) and by using EBD (g). Quantification of EBD extravasation was measured in different muscles after exercise. Six different muscles were sampled: biceps brachii, triceps brachii, gastrocnemius, tibialis anterior, extensor digitorium longus, and soleus. Qualitative detection of EBD was evaluated by fluorescence microscopy on frozen cryostat sections (see insets above histograms). Extravasated EBD concentrations were also quantified spectrophotometrically after extraction of the dye. Data were expressed as ng of EBD/mg muscle weight. The results presented herein are the means ± SD; n = 9 (a–c) and six (d–g) mice per group. ***p < 0.001 vs. WT ; ###p < 0.001 vs. mdx mice