Fig. 7.

Systemic laminin-111 protein therapy prevents exercise-induced muscle injury in mdx mice. (A) The mdx mice were treated with PBS or laminin-111 and 14 days later were subjected to a downhill running protocol and injected with EBD. Extensive EBD uptake in TA muscles of PBS-treated mdx mice indicates exercise-induced severe muscle damage. In contrast, laminin-111 protected mdx muscle from exercise-induced muscle injury. (Scale bar: 200 μm.) (B) EBD uptake was quantified in nonexercised mdx mice treated with PBS and exercised mdx mice treated with laminin-111 or PBS. Downhill running induced severe muscle damage in PBS-treated mdx mice. In contrast, laminin-111-treated mdx mice exhibited 28-fold fewer EBD-positive myofibers compared with PBS-treated animals. **, P < 0.001; n = 4 mice per group.