Techniques and Equipment

 

Functional Testing

Physical Function

  • rotarod (overall motor function)
  • treadmill (endurance, aerobic exercise capacity)
  • grip meter (limb strength)
  • inverted cling (full body strength/endurance)
  • voluntary wheel running, VWR (volitional exercise and activity rate)

Cognitive Function

  • open field (anxiety and exploratory behavior)
  • y-maze (working memory)
  • novel object recognition (memory)
  • puzzle box (executive function)

Contractile Function 

  • ex vivo / in vitro contractile physiology (force, velocity and power of contraction in soleus, extensor digitorum longus, or diaphragm muscle)
  • in vivo contractile physiology (maximum isometric plantar flexor, quadriceps, or dorsiflexor torque output)

Cardiovascular Function

  • blood pressure
  • echocardiograph

Gene Expression

  • NGS RNAseq
  • rt-qPCR

Protein Expression and Cell Signaling

  • mass spectrometry
  • western immunoblotting

Immunohistochemistry

  • muscle cell cross-sectional area and fiber typing
  • muscle cell culture characterization
  • succinate dehydrogenase activity
  • capillarization

Mitochondrial Function

  • citrate synthase activity assay
  • high resolution respirometry

Gain/Loss of Function

  • viral vectors
  • siRNA

Cell Culture 

Immortalized Lines

  • C2C12
  • MCR5

Primary Cells

  • human primary myocytes
  • mouse primary myocytes

Preclinical Exercise Models

  • HIIT (high intensity interval training)
  • VWR (voluntary wheel running)
  • HIFT (high intensity functional training) or power training

Coming Soon:

  • MICT (moderate intensity continuous training)
  • Acute resistance training