*2.2. Muscles Dissection*

At the end of the protocols, the rats fasted for 12 h, the weight and glucose parameters of each group were measured to compare these values concerning each treatment. Subsequently, they were sacrificed for cervical dislocation; dissection was performed to obtain soleus and digitorum extensor longus (EDL) muscles of the two posterior extremities. The muscles of one of the extremities were maintained with Krebs-Ringer solution, to be later taken to isometric tension measurements. Simultaneously, the other extremity muscles were stored at −80 ◦C to be subsequently homogenized for biochemical tests. The Biuret method obtained the protein concentration of the homogenates [25].
