Mitochondrial dysfunction results from oxidative stress in skeletal muscle of diet-induced insulin resistant mice

Figure 6: Antioxidant treatment restores mitochondrial alterations in STZ mice. A: Plasma H₂O₂ levels in control (Co) and streptozotocin mice, treated (STZ+NAC) or not (STZ) with N-acetylcysteine (10mM in drinking water). B: Immunoblots showing total protein carbonylation in gastrocnemius muscle of Co, STZ and STZ+NAC mice. C: mtDNA copy number was calculated as the ratio of COX1 to cyclophilin A DNA levels, determined by real time PCR, in skeletal muscle of Co, STZ and STZ+NAC mice. Note that the y-axis scale is between 0.5 and 1. Results were normalized by the mean value of the control condition set to one unit. * p< 0.01 STZ vs. Co, # p<0.05 compared to STZ mice. D: Transmission electronic microscopy images (x 25,000) of gastrocnemius muscle of STZ and STZ+NAC mice, pointing both subsarcolemmal and intermyofibrillar mitochondria.