Age-related gene expression signature in limb skeletal muscles and the diaphragm in mice and rats [rat]
As a result of aging, skeletal muscle undergoes atrophy and a decrease in function.  This age-related skeletal muscle weakness is known as “sarcopenia.”  To understand the changes in gene expression that occur as a result of age in skeletal muscles, we generated a multi-time point gene expression signature throughout the lifespan of mice and rats, as these are the most commonly used species in preclinical research and intervention testing Overall design: Gastrocnemius, tibialis anterior, soleus, and diaphragm muscles from male and female C57Bl/6J mice and male Sprague Dawley rats were analyzed at ages 6, 12, 18, 21, 24 and 27 months, plus an additional 9 month group was used for rats