General health and metabolic function are improved in ALC-treated null mice compared to saline-treated nulls.

<p>(<b>A</b>) Weight (g) was measured daily between postnatal day (PN) 1 and PN 45 in all mice. Saline-treated nulls weighed significantly less than all other groups between PN 22 and 35 (<i>p</i>'s<0.05). Between PN 36 and 45, both saline-treated and ALC-treated null mice weighed significantly less than saline-treated and ALC-treated WT mice (<i>p</i>'s<0.05). (<b>B</b>) Forepaw grip strength (kg) was assessed on PN 22, PN 30, and PN 43. Grip strength was lower in saline-treated nulls compared to saline-treated WTs on all PN's examined (<i>p</i>'s<0.003). In ALC-treated nulls, grip strength was improved to saline-treated WT levels on PN 22, intermediate between saline-treated null and saline-treated WT levels on PN 30, and significantly impaired compared to saline-treated WT mice on PN 43. Metabolic function was assessed by measuring carbon dioxide (CO₂) production (<b>C</b>) and oxygen (O₂) consumption (<b>D</b>) on PN 22, PN 30, and PN 43. CO₂ and O₂ levels were significantly decreased in saline-treated null mice compared to both WT groups (saline-treated and ALC-treated) on PN 43 (<i>p</i>'s<0.03). CO₂ levels were significantly improved in ALC-treated nulls compared to saline-treated null mice (<i>p</i><0.005) and O₂ levels were intermediate between saline-treated null and saline-treated WT levels on PN 43. All values represent the mean ± SEM. WTS: wild type saline-treated; WTA: wild type ALC-treated; NS: null saline-treated; NA: null ALC-treated. † NS vs. WTS, WTA, NA (<i>p</i><0.05) # NS vs. WTS, WTA (<i>p</i><0.05) ‡ NS and NA vs. WTS and WTA (<i>p</i>'s<0.05) * <i>p</i><0.05 between indicated groups.