Dynamic regulation of Bmal1 during mdx disease progression. (A) Immunoblot analysis of Bmal1 protein in gastrocnemius muscle of WT and mdx mutants at different ages as indicated. Pooled samples of 4-6 mice for each group were used. (B) Western validation of loss of Bmal1, together with Bmal1 target gene NR1D1, in quadriceps (Quad), gastrocnemius (GN), TA, and diaphragm (Dia) muscles of mdx and BmKO/mdx DKO mice. Pooled samples of four mice each group were used. (C, D) RT-qPCR analysis of clock gene expression in representative muscle groups, TA (C) and diaphragm (D), of 12-week-old male wild-type (n=3), mdx mutant (n=4) and BmKO/mdx mice (n=6). Relative mRNA expression was expressed as mean ±SEM with normalization to 36B4. *, ** P≤0.05 or 0.01 vs. WT; #, ##: P≤0.05 or 0.01 BmKO/mdx vs. mdx mice.