Reduced AMPK levels and activation in the cerebral cortex of BVR-A−/− mice. Representative western blot images (A) and densitometric evaluation of AMPK (B.1,B.2), p-AMPKThr172 (C.1,C.2) and p-AMPKThr172/AMPK ratio (D.1,D.2) in the cerebral cortex of WT and BVR-A−/− mice at 2 (n = 4), 6 (n = 4) and 11 (n = 4) months of age. Protein levels were normalized per total protein load. Data are expressed as percentage of WT mice at 2 months set as 100%. Columns were used to show differences among the groups (WT vs. BVR-A−/−) while dots to show age-associated changes within each group. Data are expressed as Mean ± SEM. For columns: * p < 0.05, *** p < 0.001 vs. WT (2-way ANOVA with Fisher’s LSD test). For dots: ## p < 0.01, ### p < 0.001 vs. 2 months; + p < 0.05 vs. 6 months (2-way ANOVA with Fisher’s LSD test). (E) Pearson correlation between p-AMPKThr172/AMPK ratio and p-mTORSer2448/mTOR ratio in WT and BVR-A−/− mice.