Effect of five weeks of voluntary wheel (VW) exercise on mitochondrial biogenesis markers in mice abdominal aorta (AA).

<p>(a) Effect of VW running on mRNA expression of mitochondrial biogenesis markers in AA. mRNA expressions of PGC-1α, NRF1, TFAM, p53R2, SCO1, and SCO2 were examined by real-time PCR. Values were normalized to the level of housekeeping gene, TIF. (b) Effect of VW running on protein expression of mitochondrial biogenesis markers in AA. Tissue extracts of the AA from SED and VW group mice were subjected to western blot. The amount of phosphorylated- AMPKα was normalized by the amount of AMPKα protein. Protein content of mitochondrial biogenesis marker VDAC was also measured. The loading volume was normalized by the expression level of α-tubulin. (c) Effect of VW running on mtDNA content in AA. mtDNA contents were compared in between SED and VW run mice. Relative mtDNA content are expressed as a ratio of NADH dehydrogenase subunit 2 (ND II) to 18s rRNA. All densitometry analyses values are shown as means ± SE. Data shown represent results from a total of 5 mice per group; * <i>P</i><0.05 vs. SED; ** <i>P</i><0.01 vs. SED.