Changes in membrane neuronal nitric oxide synthase (nNOS) expression 4 days after denervation surgery. (a) nNOS and dystrophin co-localized 4 days after denervation surgery. Immunofluorescence images of the gastrocnemius muscles showing individual as well as co-localized expression of nNOS and dystrophin. The fluorescence intensity of membrane nNOS decreased after denervation in the WT-Tg mice, whereas this effect was lower in the Hspg2−/−-Tg mice. (b) Percent change (from CON to DEN) of the mean gray value of membrane nNOS. Significant differences were observed between the WT-Tg CON and DEN samples (p < 0.05), whereas no significant differences were noted between the Hspg2−/−-Tg CON and DEN samples (p = 0.42). The percent changes in the mean gray value of membrane nNOS between the DEN and CON muscles were significantly different in the WT-Tg mice compared to the Hspg2−/−-Tg mice. Values are expressed as the mean ± SD. †, DEN was significantly different from CON within the same group (p < 0.05, n = 5). *, significant differences between the WT-Tg and Hspg2−/−-Tg mice (p < 0.05, n = 5). (c) Western blotting results represent the levels of total nNOS and total protein by Ponceau S staining. (d) Percent change (from CON to DEN) in the total nNOS protein content. The total nNOS content did not significantly change between the CON muscle and the DEN muscle in either the WT-Tg or the Hspg2−/−-Tg mice. Percent change in the total nNOS did not differ between the WT-Tg and Hspg2−/−-Tg mice.