Figure 5.

Effects of Neonatal GDF11 Propeptide Administration on Muscle Mass and Function

3-day-old C57BL/6J pups were treated with 5 × 10¹¹ vg AAV9-GDF11Pro-Fc-1 or PBS control and followed for 28 weeks. (A) Body weight (n = 5). (B) Weight of whole limb muscles, diaphragm, and heart and (C) weight normalized to body weight (n = 5). (D) Total distance traveled on the treadmill running test (n = 5). Depicted data represent total distance traveled at 26 weeks post-treatment. (E) Peak force produced on the forelimb grip strength test and (F) peak force normalized to body weight (n = 5). Depicted data represent peak force reading at 28 weeks post-treatment. All error bars represent mean ± SEM. *p < 0.05; **p < 0.01; ***p < 0.001.