Gas7-deficient mouse reveals roles in motor function and muscle fiber composition during aging

Bo Tsang Huang, Pu Yuan Chang, Ching Hua Su, Chuck C.K. Chao, Sue Lin-Chao*

*Corresponding author for this work

Research output: Contribution to journalJournal Article peer-review

12 Scopus citations

Abstract

Background: Growth arrest-specific gene 7 (Gas7) has previously been shown to be involved in neurite outgrowth in vitro; however, its actual role has yet to be determined. To investigate the physiological function of Gas7 in vivo, here we generated a Gas7-deficient mouse strain with a labile Gas7 mutant protein whose functions are similar to wild-type Gas7. Methodology/Principal Findings: Our data show that aged Gas7-deficient mice have motor activity defects due to decreases in the number of spinal motor neurons and in muscle strength, of which the latter may be caused by changes in muscle fiber composition as shown in the soleus. In cross sections of the soleus of Gas7-deficient mice, gross morphological features and levels of myosin heavy chain I (MHC I) and MHC II markers revealed significantly fewer fast fibers. In addition, we found that nerve terminal sprouting, which may be associated with slow and fast muscle fiber composition, was considerably reduced at neuromuscular junctions (NMJ) during aging. Conclusions/Significance: These findings indicate that Gas7 is involved in motor neuron function associated with muscle strength maintenance.

Original languageEnglish
Article numbere37702
JournalPLoS ONE
Volume7
Issue number5
DOIs
StatePublished - 25 05 2012

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