Age-related gene expression signature in limb skeletal muscles and the diaphragm in mice and rats [rat]

As a result of aging, skeletal muscle undergoes atrophy and a decrease in function. This age-related skeletal muscle weakness is known as “sarcopenia.” To understand the changes in gene expression that occur as a result of age in skeletal muscles, we generated a multi-time point gene expression signature throughout the lifespan of mice and rats, as these are the most commonly used species in preclinical research and intervention testing Gastrocnemius, tibialis anterior, soleus, and diaphragm muscles from male and female C57Bl/6J mice and male Sprague Dawley rats were analyzed at ages 6, 12, 18, 21, 24 and 27 months, plus an additional 9 month group was used for rats