RNA-sequencing Reveals a Gene Expression Signature in Skeletal Muscle of a Mouse Model of Age-associated Postoperative Functional Decline.

This study aimed to characterize the effects of laparotomy on postoperative physical function and skeletal muscle gene expression in male C57BL/6N mice at 3, 20, and 24 months of age to investigate late-life vulnerability and resiliency to acute surgical stress. Pre and postoperative physical functioning was assessed by forelimb grip strength on postoperative day (POD) 1 and 3 and motor coordination on POD 2 and 4. Laparotomy-induced an age-associated postoperative decline in forelimb grip strength that was the greatest in the oldest mice.

Effects of early crush on aging wild type and Connexin 32 knockout mice: Evidence for a neuroprotective state in CMT1X mouse nerve.

The long-term sequelae of nerve injury as well as age-related neurodegeneration have been documented in numerous studies, however the role of Cx32 in these processes is not well understood. There is a need for better understanding of the molecular mechanisms that underlie long-term suboptimal nerve function and for approaches to prevent or improve it. In this communication we describe our studies using whole animal electrophysiology to examine the long-term sequelae of sciatic nerve crush in both WT and Cx32KO mice, a model of X-linked Charcot Marie Tooth disease, a subtype of inherited peripheral neuropathies.