BDNF contributes to the skeletal muscle anti-atrophic effect of exercise training through AMPK-PGC1α signaling in heart failure mice

Figure 1. Distance run (A) and plasma norepinephrine (NE) levels (B) in untrained and exercise-trained sham-operated mice (CON-UT and CON-T, respectively), and untrained and exercise-trained MI mice (HF-UT and HF-T, respectively). Note that exercise training significantly improved distance run in HF mice Data are presented as means ± SE. *P < 0.05 vs. CON-UT group.

Figure 2. Heart rate (A), fractional shortening (B) and ejection fraction (C) in untrained and exercise-trained shamoperated mice (CON-UT and CON-T, respectively), and untrained and exercise-trained MI mice (HF-UT and HF-T, respectively). Note that exercise training decreased HR, and increased FS and EF levels in HF mice toward those of untrained CON mice Data are presented as means ± SE. *P < 0.05 vs. basal levels; #p< 0.05 vs. untrained group.

Figure 3. BDNF expression in untrained and exercise-trained sham-operated, and MI mice. A – Representative blots of BDNF from untrained (CONUT) and exercise-trained sham-operated (CON-T) and untrained (HF-UT) and trained MI (HF-T) mice. B – Relative protein band density values of BDNF were calculated as the ratio of the protein of interest to that of GAPDH. C – Relative mRNA expression of BDNF Data are presented as means ± SE. *P < 0.05 vs. CON-UT group.

Figure 4. P-TrkB, p-AMPK and PGC-1α expression in untrained and exercise-trained sham-operated, and MI mice. A – Representative blots of p-TrkB, p-AMPK and PGC-1α from untrained (CON-UT) and exercise-trained sham-operated (CON-T) and untrained (HF-UT) and trained MI (HF-T) mice. B–D – Relative protein band density values of p-TrkB, p-AMPK and PGC-1α were calculated as the ratio of the protein of interest to that of GAPDH Data are presented as means ± SE. *P < 0.05 vs. CON-UT group.

Figure 5. P-AMPK and PGC-1α expression in untreated and BDNF siRNA treated C2C12 myoblasts. A – Representative blots of p-AMPK and PGC-1α. B, C – Relative protein band density values of p-AMPK and PGC-1α were calculated as the ratio of protein of interest to that of GAPDH Data are presented as means ± SE. *P < 0.05 vs. Control group.