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Fig. 1 | Skeletal Muscle

Fig. 1

From: Loss of niche-satellite cell interactions in syndecan-3 null mice alters muscle progenitor cell homeostasis improving muscle regeneration

Fig. 1

Loss of syndecan-3 improves dystrophic muscle histopathology and muscle function. a, b Pax7+ satellite cells are present in equal numbers in wild type and Sdc3 −/− muscle (top panels) but are reduced in mdx 4cv ;Sdc3 −/− (4cv;S3−/−) compared to mdx 4cv ;Sdc3 +/+ (4cv;S3+/+) muscles (lower panels). Interstitial Pax7 immunoreactive cells were occasionally observed in mdx 4cv ;Sdc3 −/− muscle; these were rare and not scored. Average numbers of Pax7+ sublaminar cells plotted in b as percentage of total area. c–f Cross sections of wild type, Sdc3 −/− (S3−/−), mdx 4cv ;Sdc3 +/+ (4cv;S3+/+), and mdx 4cv ;Sdc3 −/− (4cv;S3−/−) mice were stained to detect collagen (c, red), muscle tissue (c, yellow), mouse immunoglobulins (e, green), and laminin (e, red). Connective tissue quantified as area stained in red (c) and plotted in d as a percentage of the total area. Myofibers with increased sarcolemmal permeability quantified as number of myofibers containing mouse IgG immunostaining in e and plotted in f as percentage of the total myofiber numbers. g–j Exercise performance in male (g, h) and female (i, j) mdx 4cv ;Sdc3 −/− and mdx 4cv ;Sdc3 +/+ sex- and age-matched mice measured as time run (g and i) or distance run (h and j) during 3 weeks of volunteer running. Daily averages for each genotype are plotted. Non-dystrophic Sdc3 +/+ and Sdc3 −/− mice were averaged and plotted as control (g–j). k Diaphragm histology in exercised mice by trichrome staining. Error bars are S.E.M. ** = p < 0.01, * = p < 0.05. Scale bars are 100 μm in c, 50 μm in e, and 30 μm in a

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