Quadrupling Muscle Mass in Mice by Targeting TGF-ß Signaling Pathways
2007
Quadrupling Muscle Mass in Mice by Targeting TGF-ß Signaling Pathways
publication
Evidence: high
Author Information
Author(s): Se-Jin Lee
Primary Institution: Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine
Hypothesis
Can the overexpression of follistatin in myostatin-null mice lead to increased muscle mass?
Conclusion
The study found that manipulating TGF-ß signaling pathways can significantly increase muscle mass in mice.
Supporting Evidence
- Mice lacking myostatin have about twice the muscle mass of normal mice.
- Follistatin can induce dramatic increases in muscle mass when overexpressed.
- Mice with both follistatin transgene and myostatin mutation had about four times the muscle mass of wild type mice.
Takeaway
Scientists found a way to make mice grow a lot more muscle by changing how certain proteins work in their bodies.
Methodology
The study involved creating transgenic mice that overexpress follistatin and analyzing their muscle mass compared to wild type and myostatin-null mice.
Statistical Information
P-Value
p<0.001
Statistical Significance
p<0.001
Digital Object Identifier (DOI)
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