Effects of exercise training on growth and differentiation factor 11 expression in aged mice

Minjung Lee, Satoshi Oikawa, Takashi Ushida, Katsuhiko Suzuki, Takayuki Akimoto*

*Corresponding author for this work

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

8 Citations (Scopus)

Abstract

Exercise training is considered an effective way to prevent age-related skeletal muscle loss. However, the molecular mechanism has not been clarified. Growth and differentiation factor 11 (GDF11) has been controversially considered a regulator of skeletal muscle aging. In this study, we examined whether GDF11 is associated with skeletal muscle aging and the effects of exercise training on age-related skeletal muscle loss. First, we observed that Gdf11 mRNA and protein expression levels in young (5-month-old, n = 6) and aged (22-to 26-month-old, n = 5) mice were not significantly different. Aged mice were then divided into sedentary (n = 5) and exercise (n = 6) groups. The exercise group performed moderate-intensity treadmill running for 6 weeks. Treadmill exercise training increased Gdf11 mRNA expression in the soleus muscle, but its protein expression was not altered. In contrast, the GDF11 level in the plantaris muscle was not changed at either the mRNA or protein level. Collectively, our data demonstrate that GDF11 levels do not change during aging, and that treadmill exercise training increased Gdf11 mRNA expression in a predominantly slow-twitch muscle.

Original languageEnglish
Article number970
JournalFrontiers in Physiology
Volume10
Issue numberJUL
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - 2019

Keywords

  • Aging
  • Differentiation factor 11
  • Exercise
  • Growth
  • Sarcopenia
  • Skeletal muscle

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • Physiology
  • Physiology (medical)

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