Analysis of skeletal muscle gene expression upon mouse hindlimb unloading and reloading

To investigate the molecular mechanisms governing the transition of skeletal muscle from atrophy to compensatory regeneration and hypertrophy, we employed a mouse model involving hindlimb unloading and subsequent reloading, conducting a comprehensive analysis of global gene expression using RNA-sequencing (RNA-seq). Gastrocnemius muscle samples were obtained from three groups: control mice, mice subjected to 10 days of hindlimb unloading-induced muscle atrophy, and mice reintroduced to normal cage activity for 1 day following the unloading period (reloading). Overall design: Comparative gene expression profiling analysis of RNA-seq data for mouse gastrocnemius muscle from model of hindlimb unloading/reloading assessing transitions from atrophy to compensatory regeneration and hypertrophy. Control mice were kept in conventional cages throughout the entire protocol. Experiment was performed in replicates (Control n = 4, Unloading n = 2, Reloading n = 3). Paired-end DNA libraries were prepared using Illumina TrueSeq and sequenced on Illumina HiSeq2000 (.