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Study · Animal study (in vivo) · mouse · 2025

12 results

Chronic treatment of old mice with AICAR reverses age-related changes in exercise performance and skeletal muscle gene expression.

Wilcox SH, Calixto J, Dray SD, Rasch DM, Smith AH, Brodowski KD, Hill JT, Thomson DM

FASEB bioAdvances29 Jan 2025Cited by 5 (Europe PMC)

PMID40060947 (opens in a new tab)PMCIDPMC11886611 (opens in a new tab)DOI10.1096/fba.2024-00252 (opens in a new tab)PepBankPUB-40060947
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Summary

The text of this summary is not shown here, because the article license does not allow reuse. Read it at the source (opens in a new tab)

Text rights: CC BY-NC-ND. Results still quote short attributed sentences.

Results from this study12

12 results from studies that gave the peptide. No result from this study comes from people.

  1. 01AnimalAnimal study (in vivo)Efficacy outcome

    In old mice, AICAR prevented the treadmill running decline observed in saline-treated old mice.

    In plain wordsIn old mice, AICAR prevented the decline in treadmill running seen with saline.

    Peptide
    AICAR (acadesine)
    Outcome
    DecreaseTreadmill running capacity decline
    Study

    mousen: not reported in source

    Old mice
    Comparator
    Saline-treated old mice
    Outcome group
    Exercise and physical function · Musculoskeletal
    Studied dose
    300 to 500 mg/kg daily · subcutaneous injection · 24 daysAs given in this study (mouse).

    Source sentences

    Summary
    This decline was not observed in YS or OA mice.
    3 context sentences
    Summary · context
    Treadmill running capacity declined from pre- to posttesting by 24.5% in OS mice.
    Summary · context
    Treadmill posttesting was performed after 24 days, and the mice were euthanized after 31 days of treatment.
    Summary · context
    Old (23 months) mice were tested for treadmill running capacity, then randomly assigned to receive daily treatment with AICAR (OA; 300 to 500 mg/kg, delivered via subcutaneous injection) or an equivalent volume of saline vehicle (OS) for 31 days.
  2. 02AnimalAnimal study (in vivo)Efficacy outcome

    In old mice, quadricep weight was approximately 8% higher with AICAR than saline.

    In plain wordsIn old mice, AICAR increased thigh muscle weight compared with saline.

    Peptide
    AICAR (acadesine)
    Outcome
    IncreaseQuadricep weight
    Study

    mousen: not reported in source

    Old mice
    Comparator
    Saline-treated old mice
    Outcome group
    Muscle injury and repair · Musculoskeletal
    Studied dose
    300 to 500 mg/kg daily · subcutaneous injection · 31 daysAs given in this study (mouse).

    Measurements

    Quadricep weight difference
    ≈ 8%
    AICAR versus saline

    Source sentences

    Summary
    Quadricep weight was ~8% higher, and tetanic force production by the EDL muscle increased by 26.4% in OA versus OS.
    1 context sentence
    Summary · context
    Old (23 months) mice were tested for treadmill running capacity, then randomly assigned to receive daily treatment with AICAR (OA; 300 to 500 mg/kg, delivered via subcutaneous injection) or an equivalent volume of saline vehicle (OS) for 31 days.
  3. 03AnimalAnimal study (in vivo)Efficacy outcome

    In old mice, AICAR increased EDL tetanic force by 26.4% versus saline.

    In plain wordsIn old mice, AICAR increased muscle force compared with saline.

    Peptide
    AICAR (acadesine)
    Outcome
    IncreaseTetanic force production
    Study

    mousen: not reported in source

    Old mice
    Comparator
    Saline-treated old mice
    Outcome group
    Exercise and physical function · Musculoskeletal
    Studied dose
    300 to 500 mg/kg daily · subcutaneous injection · 31 daysAs given in this study (mouse).

    Measurements

    Tetanic force increase
    26.4%
    AICAR versus saline

    Source sentences

    Summary
    Quadricep weight was ~8% higher, and tetanic force production by the EDL muscle increased by 26.4% in OA versus OS.
    1 context sentence
    Summary · context
    Old (23 months) mice were tested for treadmill running capacity, then randomly assigned to receive daily treatment with AICAR (OA; 300 to 500 mg/kg, delivered via subcutaneous injection) or an equivalent volume of saline vehicle (OS) for 31 days.
  4. 04AnimalAnimal study (in vivo)Efficacy outcome

    In old mice, AICAR-associated gene expression changes resembled young muscles across several gene ontologies relative to saline-treated old muscles.

    In plain wordsIn old mice, AICAR-associated muscle gene expression resembled young muscles more than saline-treated old muscles.

    Peptide
    AICAR (acadesine)
    Outcome
    Direction not reportedMuscle gene expression
    Study

    mousen: not reported in source

    Old mice
    Comparator
    Saline-treated old mice
    Outcome group
    Aging markers · Musculoskeletal
    Studied dose
    300 to 500 mg/kg daily · subcutaneous injection · 31 daysAs given in this study (mouse).

    Source sentences

    Summary
    These phenotypic improvements with AICAR treatment were accompanied by changes in gene expression in OA/YS versus OS muscles consistent with the "rejuvenation" of gene ontologies associated with connective tissue, neurodegenerative disease, Akt signaling, and mitochondrial function, among others.
    1 context sentence
    Summary · context
    Old (23 months) mice were tested for treadmill running capacity, then randomly assigned to receive daily treatment with AICAR (OA; 300 to 500 mg/kg, delivered via subcutaneous injection) or an equivalent volume of saline vehicle (OS) for 31 days.
  5. 05AnimalAnimal study (in vivo)Efficacy outcome

    In old mice, AICAR increased cytochrome C by approximately 33%.

    In plain wordsIn old mice, AICAR increased a mitochondrial marker compared with saline.

    Peptide
    AICAR (acadesine)
    Outcome
    IncreaseCytochrome C
    Study

    mousen: not reported in source

    Old mice
    Comparator
    Saline-treated old mice
    Outcome group
    Mitochondrial function · Musculoskeletal
    Studied dose
    300 to 500 mg/kg daily · subcutaneous injection · 31 daysAs given in this study (mouse).

    Measurements

    Cytochrome C increase
    ≈ 33%
    AICAR treatment

    Source sentences

    Summary
    AICAR increased the mitochondrial markers cytochrome C by ~33%, and citrate synthase by ~22%.
    1 context sentence
    Summary · context
    Old (23 months) mice were tested for treadmill running capacity, then randomly assigned to receive daily treatment with AICAR (OA; 300 to 500 mg/kg, delivered via subcutaneous injection) or an equivalent volume of saline vehicle (OS) for 31 days.
  6. 06AnimalAnimal study (in vivo)Efficacy outcome

    In old mice, AICAR increased citrate synthase by approximately 22%.

    In plain wordsIn old mice, AICAR increased citrate synthase compared with saline.

    Peptide
    AICAR (acadesine)
    Outcome
    IncreaseCitrate synthase
    Study

    mousen: not reported in source

    Old mice
    Comparator
    Saline-treated old mice
    Outcome group
    Mitochondrial function · Musculoskeletal
    Studied dose
    300 to 500 mg/kg daily · subcutaneous injection · 31 daysAs given in this study (mouse).

    Measurements

    Citrate synthase increase
    ≈ 22%
    AICAR treatment

    Source sentences

    Summary
    AICAR increased the mitochondrial markers cytochrome C by ~33%, and citrate synthase by ~22%.
    1 context sentence
    Summary · context
    Old (23 months) mice were tested for treadmill running capacity, then randomly assigned to receive daily treatment with AICAR (OA; 300 to 500 mg/kg, delivered via subcutaneous injection) or an equivalent volume of saline vehicle (OS) for 31 days.
  7. 07AnimalAnimal study (in vivo)Efficacy outcome

    In old mice, AICAR increased serum insulin-like growth factor-1 levels.

    In plain wordsIn old mice, AICAR increased blood growth factor levels compared with saline.

    Peptide
    AICAR (acadesine)
    Outcome
    IncreaseSerum IGF-1
    Study

    mousen: not reported in source

    Old mice
    Comparator
    Saline-treated old mice
    Outcome group
    Growth hormone and IGF-1 · Endocrine and hormones
    Studied dose
    300 to 500 mg/kg daily · subcutaneous injection · 31 daysAs given in this study (mouse).

    Source sentences

    Summary
    Serum insulin-like growth factor-1 levels increased, and Akt phosphorylation tended (p = 0.07) to increase with AICAR treatment.
    1 context sentence
    Summary · context
    Old (23 months) mice were tested for treadmill running capacity, then randomly assigned to receive daily treatment with AICAR (OA; 300 to 500 mg/kg, delivered via subcutaneous injection) or an equivalent volume of saline vehicle (OS) for 31 days.
  8. 08AnimalAnimal study (in vivo)Mechanism

    In old mice, Akt phosphorylation tended to increase with AICAR, but the reported P value was 0.07.

    In plain wordsIn old mice, AICAR showed a nonsignificant tendency to increase Akt phosphorylation compared with saline.

    Peptide
    AICAR (acadesine)
    Outcome
    No significant changeAkt phosphorylation
    Study

    mousen: not reported in source

    Old mice
    Comparator
    Saline-treated old mice
    Outcome group
    Receptor activity and mechanism · Musculoskeletal
    Studied dose
    300 to 500 mg/kg daily · subcutaneous injection · 31 daysAs given in this study (mouse).

    Source sentences

    Summary
    Serum insulin-like growth factor-1 levels increased, and Akt phosphorylation tended (p = 0.07) to increase with AICAR treatment.
    1 context sentence
    Summary · context
    Old (23 months) mice were tested for treadmill running capacity, then randomly assigned to receive daily treatment with AICAR (OA; 300 to 500 mg/kg, delivered via subcutaneous injection) or an equivalent volume of saline vehicle (OS) for 31 days.
  9. 09AnimalAnimal study (in vivo)Mechanism

    In old mice, AICAR increased muscle rpS6 protein levels versus saline.

    In plain wordsIn old mice, AICAR increased muscle rpS6 protein compared with saline.

    Peptide
    AICAR (acadesine)
    Outcome
    IncreaserpS6 protein
    Study

    mousen: not reported in source

    Old mice
    Comparator
    Saline-treated old mice
    Outcome group
    Receptor activity and mechanism · Musculoskeletal
    Studied dose
    300 to 500 mg/kg daily · subcutaneous injection · 31 daysAs given in this study (mouse).

    Source sentences

    Summary
    Although protein levels of the mTORC1 signaling pathway intermediate, rpS6, were higher in OA versus OS muscles, the phosphorylation of mTORC1 pathway intermediates was unaffected.
    1 context sentence
    Summary · context
    Old (23 months) mice were tested for treadmill running capacity, then randomly assigned to receive daily treatment with AICAR (OA; 300 to 500 mg/kg, delivered via subcutaneous injection) or an equivalent volume of saline vehicle (OS) for 31 days.
  10. 10AnimalAnimal study (in vivo)Mechanism

    In old mice, AICAR did not affect phosphorylation of mTORC1 pathway intermediates.

    In plain wordsIn old mice, AICAR did not change phosphorylation of mTORC1 pathway intermediates compared with saline.

    Peptide
    AICAR (acadesine)
    Outcome
    No significant changemTORC1 pathway intermediate phosphorylation
    Study

    mousen: not reported in source

    Old mice
    Comparator
    Saline-treated old mice
    Outcome group
    Receptor activity and mechanism · Musculoskeletal
    Studied dose
    300 to 500 mg/kg daily · subcutaneous injection · 31 daysAs given in this study (mouse).

    Source sentences

    Summary
    Although protein levels of the mTORC1 signaling pathway intermediate, rpS6, were higher in OA versus OS muscles, the phosphorylation of mTORC1 pathway intermediates was unaffected.
    1 context sentence
    Summary · context
    Old (23 months) mice were tested for treadmill running capacity, then randomly assigned to receive daily treatment with AICAR (OA; 300 to 500 mg/kg, delivered via subcutaneous injection) or an equivalent volume of saline vehicle (OS) for 31 days.
  11. 11AnimalAnimal study (in vivo)Mechanism

    In old mice, AICAR reduced muscle Mafbx gene expression.

    In plain wordsIn old mice, AICAR reduced muscle Mafbx gene expression compared with saline.

    Peptide
    AICAR (acadesine)
    Outcome
    DecreaseMafbx gene expression
    Study

    mousen: not reported in source

    Old mice
    Comparator
    Saline-treated old mice
    Outcome group
    Receptor activity and mechanism · Musculoskeletal
    Studied dose
    300 to 500 mg/kg daily · subcutaneous injection · 31 daysAs given in this study (mouse).

    Source sentences

    Summary
    On the other hand, gene expression of the muscle-specific ubiquitin ligases Mafbx and Murf1 were reduced with AICAR treatment.
    1 context sentence
    Summary · context
    Old (23 months) mice were tested for treadmill running capacity, then randomly assigned to receive daily treatment with AICAR (OA; 300 to 500 mg/kg, delivered via subcutaneous injection) or an equivalent volume of saline vehicle (OS) for 31 days.
  12. 12AnimalAnimal study (in vivo)Mechanism

    In old mice, AICAR reduced muscle Murf1 gene expression.

    In plain wordsIn old mice, AICAR reduced muscle Murf1 gene expression compared with saline.

    Peptide
    AICAR (acadesine)
    Outcome
    DecreaseMurf1 gene expression
    Study

    mousen: not reported in source

    Old mice
    Comparator
    Saline-treated old mice
    Outcome group
    Receptor activity and mechanism · Musculoskeletal
    Studied dose
    300 to 500 mg/kg daily · subcutaneous injection · 31 daysAs given in this study (mouse).

    Source sentences

    Summary
    On the other hand, gene expression of the muscle-specific ubiquitin ligases Mafbx and Murf1 were reduced with AICAR treatment.
    1 context sentence
    Summary · context
    Old (23 months) mice were tested for treadmill running capacity, then randomly assigned to receive daily treatment with AICAR (OA; 300 to 500 mg/kg, delivered via subcutaneous injection) or an equivalent volume of saline vehicle (OS) for 31 days.

AI wrote and checked these results. AI can make mistakes, so check important results against the source.

Version history

PepBank keeps every version of the data on this study. Status changes from Retraction Watch, Europe PMC and Crossref are listed with their source.

  1. Version 2Current

    21 Oct 2026, 15:58 UTC

    Study results updated

  2. Version 1

    21 Oct 2026, 12:50 UTC

    First added · source update from Europe PMC

Subjects

Terms as the source lists them.

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