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May 14, 2026Physiology

Progressive Weighted Wheel Running Enhances Neuromuscular Junction Innervation and Muscle Power in Aged Mice

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Authors

HTH J ThompsonSGSara Gonzalez-VelezRWRoss Wohlgemuth

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Overview

Randomized trial shows improved muscle power and neuromuscular junction integrity in aged mice, suggesting a potential counter against aging decline.

Key Points

  • Investigate if progressive weighted wheel running (PoWeR) enhances neuromuscular junction innervation and muscle power in aged mice.
  • Twenty-two-month-old female C57BL/6N mice were randomly assigned to PoWeR or sedentary control.
  • In vivo contractile function assessed and muscles harvested for immunohistochemical and RNA-seq analyses.
  • Muscle morphology and terminal Schwann cell abundance evaluated in soleus and gastrocnemius muscles.
  • PoWeR improved NMJ alignment from 56±11% to 81±20% and increased terminal Schwann cells per NMJ from 1.9±0.8 to 3.7±1.6.
  • Reduced NMJ fragmentation (Control: 2.2±0.4; PoWeR: 1.5±0.4), and enhanced endplate area (Control: 2562±822 µm²; PoWeR: 2865±537 µm²).
  • PoWeR-trained mice exhibited increased torque development and faster peak torque compared to controls (p<0.05).

Cite This Study

Thompson et al. (2026) studied this question.

synapsesocial.com/papers/6a056668a550a87e60a1e762https://doi.org/10.1152/physiol.2026.41.s1.2300384
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