Abstract
BACKGROUND: To investigate the relationship between the NF-kB signaling pathway and muscle-attenuated skeletal muscle dopamine receptor (DR) in mice. METHODOLOGY: 40 specific pathogens free (SPF) C57BL/6 mice aged 6 to 7 months were randomly divided into a model group and control group by random number table method, with 20 mice in each group. Muscle-attenuated mice were established in model group, and the expression of NF-kB protein was detected by Western-blot, and the expressions of IL-β1, TNF-a, DRD1, and DRD2 were detected by enzyme linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). Meanwhile, the muscle fiber cross-sectional area was determined. RESULTS: The relative expression of NF-kB protein, IL-,1 and TNF-a in model group were significantly higher than those in control group (P < 0.05). The levels of DRD1 and DRD2 in skeletal muscle in model group were significantly lower than those in control group (P < 0.05). The cross-sectional are the model group was significantly lower than in the control group (P < 0.05). The relative expression of NF-kB protein was negatively correlated with DRD1, DRD2 and muscle fiber cross-sectional area. DRD1 and DRD2 were positively correlated with muscle fiber cross-sectional area. CONCLUSION: In muscle-atrophied mice, NF-kB protein, an indicator of the NF-kB signaling pathway, was negatively correlated with DR, and both had an important role in muscle atrophy.