Sections were imaged using a Nikon E800 microscope and taken at a magnification of 20x. Five non-overlapping field images representative of the overall tissue histology were captured using digital imaging computer software. All of the digital images were uploaded into Image J Software for analysis using a cell counter software plug-in. The number of inflammatory foci and fibrosis were assessed in the diaphragm between treatment groups. Diaphragm fibrosis was assessed by use of Picro sirius red staining with a Weigert��s haematoxylin nuclear counter stain on diaphragm cross-sections. In gastrocnemius cross-sections the total number of degenerating, regenerating and inflammatory foci per field were quantified in order to assess differences between treatment groups. The average number of fibers sampled in the 5 non-overlapping cross-sections was 170, with a range of 88�C300 fibers per field. Fibers displaying a loss of striations/homogenous appearance of fiber contents were counted as degenerating fibers. Skeletal 1,2,3,4,5,6-Hexabromocyclohexane muscle excitability is regulated by ionic gradients. Following membrane depolarization, activation of the Na + /K + – ATPase proton pump restores resting Na + and K + gradients and helps maintain muscle excitability for repeated contractions. Due to alterations in membrane stability and ion conductivity in dystrophic muscle, we sought to investigate the effects of the proton pump inhibitor LANZO on the dystrophic phenotype in mdx mice. The main finding of our study was that combined LANZO and prednisolone treatment improved some components of the dystrophic phenotype in dystrophin deficient mdx mice. Attenuation of the dystrophic phenotype in the combined treatment group relative to the vehicle control was indicated by observations of: 1) a decreased number of degenerating fibers and inflammatory foci per gastrocnemius cross sectional field; 2) attenuated declines in normalized forelimb and hindlimb grip strength; 3) attenuated declines in maximal in vitro EDL force in response to repeated lengthening contractions. LANZO administration decreased declines in body mass and reduced the number of muscle inflammatory foci. LANZO administration also appeared to improve specific and maximal gastrocnemius muscle force, although this did not reach statistical significance. The effects of LANZO and prednisolone were not additive, mice in the combined treatment group did display greater improvements in muscle force in response to repeated eccentric contractions and a reduced number of muscle inflammatory foci relative to the prednisolone treatment group. The beneficial effects of dual LANZO and prednisolone administration are Acifran likely multifold. LANZO belongs to a class of proton pump inhibitors that become active in weakly acidic environments. LANZO has been suggested to bind to other classes of proton pumps, including the Na + /K + -ATPase.