Volitional exercise elicits physiological and molecular improvements in the severe D2.mdx mouse model of Duchenne muscular dystrophy.

ABSTRACT: Duchenne muscular dystrophy (DMD) is characterized by progressive muscle wasting and weakness. Prescribed moderate exercise in patients is beneficial, but concerns remain due to the vulnerability of dystrophic muscle to damage. Voluntary wheel running (VWR) is a self-regulated form of exercise that improves muscle health in the typical C57.mdx mouse model of DMD. The purpose of the current study was to investigate the impact of VWR in more severe and clinically relevant D2.mdx mice. Male D2.mdx animals were assigned to a sedentary (D2.mdx SED) or VWR group for 8-10 weeks, whereas DBA/2J wild-type mice served as healthy, sedentary controls (WT SED). Selective skeletal muscle mass and ex vivo force generation were elevated in D2.mdx animals that ran a relatively high volume (D2.mdx High VWR;

SUBMITTER: Mattina SR 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC12810227 | biostudies-literature | 2026 Jan

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature