Figure 5.

Skeletal muscle histomorphology, myofiber permeability, and dystrophin immunostaining differ significantly in C57 and B/c mice after 6 hours of acute hind limb ischemia, despite muscle functional impairment in both strains. A: Representative images of hematoxylin and eosin–stained sections from the control right [Ctrl. (R)] and ischemic left [Isch. (L)] tibialis anterior (TA) and gastrocnemius muscles. B: Aggregate clinical scores from three images for each animal assessed in the tibialis anterior muscles; maximal score of 15 indicates most severe ischemic damage. C: Aggregate clinical scores from five images for each animal assessed in the gastrocnemius muscles; maximal score of 25 indicates most severe ischemic damage. D: Scatter plot of clinical score in the TA versus laser Doppler perfusion images (LDPI) flux ratio in the plantar paw. E: Scatter plot of clinical score in the gastrocnemius versus LDPI flux ratio in the medial thigh. F: Peak specific force production after maximal stimulation (120 Hz) in isolated extensor digitorum longus (EDL) muscles represented in N/cm². G: Representative images of Evans Blue Dye (EBD)–positive myofibers and dystrophin immunostaining in transverse sections of Isch. (L) and Ctrl. (R) TA muscles from both strains after 6 hours of hind limb ischemia. H: Mean number of EBD⁺, dystrophin-positive (Dyst.⁺), or total fibers from three images for each animal assessed in the Isch. (L) TA muscles of both strains. Representative images are 2× digital zoom from images. Bars indicate the median (B and C). Data are expressed as means ± SEM (F and H). n = 8 BALB/c (B); n = 10 C57BL/6 (B); n = 7 per group (C); n = 4 BALB/c (D); n = 10 C57BL/6 (D); n = 7 per group (E); n = 6 per group (F); n = 8 BALB/c (H), n = 7 C57BL/6 (H). ^∗P < 0.05. Scale bars = 50 μm (A and G). Original magnification: ×20 (A and G).