Negative Effects of Cx43 during Denervated Skeletal Muscle Atrophy can be Attenuated by Blueberry Extracts via Regulating Akt Pathway

Abstract

Background: Lack of effective treatment for alleviating the irreversible skeletal muscle atrophy caused by peripheral nerve disfunction has long been a clinical problem. For seeking therapeutic targets, several signaling pathways in muscle cells that activated by denervation have been explored. Important roles of Cx43 in other types of pathologic processes such as have been reported. Methods: Denervation mice model was created. Hematoxylin–Eosin (HE) and immunofluorescence staining were applied and analyzed. Western blot and quantitative real-time PCR (qPCR) were used. All statistical testing was performed by t test.Results: Our study investigated the negative role of Cx43 during muscle cells degeneration after denervation. Blueberry extracts was applied orally and its protective effect for denervated skeletal muscle atrophy was found in our study, and we demonstrated that Cx43/Akt pathway in denervated muscle cells was modulated by blueberry extracts. Conclusion: Negative effects of Cx43 during denervated skeletal muscle atrophy can be attenuated by blueberry extracts via regulating Akt pathway.