To mimic declining Pabpn1 expression levels during aging and OPMD, we stably down-regulated Pabpn1 by intramuscular injection of Adeno associated virus (AAV) serotype 9 expressing shRNA to Pabpn1 (shPab) into mouse TA muscles. Here, PABPN1 is linked to oculopharyngeal muscular dystrophy.