Abstract: Objective　To explore the regulatory role of aryl hydrocarbon receptor nuclear transporter (ARNT) on skeletal muscle regeneration and to provide theories for improving muscle regeneration in aging population.　Methods　Mice skeletal muscle injury model was constructed. Skeletal muscle regeneration ability was explored between young and old mice, transgenic and wild-type mice, old hypoxia pathway activator (ML228) and DMSO mice following cryoinjury. Whole muscle was obtained and analyzed to evaluate the expressions of ARNT, hypoxia pathway and skeletal muscle regeneration related protein/ genes, as well as the blood flow in the lower limbs of mice.　Results　The regeneration ability of skeletal muscle decreased in aging mice. ARNT gene knockout in young mice hindered skeletal muscle regeneration, as well as down-regulated hypoxia pathway factor and the expressions of related genes. ML228 could restore the regenerative ability of damaged skeletal muscle.　Conclusions　The inhibition of hypoxia pathway by the decreasing of ARNT content  caused by aging is the main reason for the decreasing of skeletal muscle regeneration ability. The pharmacological activator of hypoxia signal improves the regeneration ability of skeletal muscle in the elderly is promising.

Key words: Aryl hydrocarbon receptor translocator, 　Skeletal muscle regeneration, 　Hypoxia pathway, 　Hypoxia pathway activator