Alkyl nitrate ester compounds are provided for the delivery of nitric oxide to targeted muscle tissues, and in particular, to normal and dystrophic muscles. In one aspect, nitrate ester compounds are provided having the following formula:wherein,R1 is ONO2, CH2ONO2, CnH2n+1OH, CnH2n+1OH, CH3, CH2CH3, CH2CH2CH3, or H；R2 is ON02, CH2ONO2, Cn'H2n'+1OH, Cn'H2n'+1OH, CH3, CH2CH3, CH2CH2CH3, or H；R3 is ON02, CH2ONO2, Cn"H2n"+1OH, Cn"H2n"+1OH, CH3, CH2CH3, CH2CH2CH3, or H； andR4 is ON02, CH2ONO2, Cn"H2n"+1OH, Cn"H2n"+1OH, CH3, CH2CH3, CH2CH2CH3, or H； wherein n is an integer from 0 to 9, n' is an integer from 0 to 9, and n" is an integer from 0 to 9, and n+n'+n" ≤ 9, and wherein at least one of R1, R2, and R3 is an ester nitrate selected from the group consisting of ON02, CH2ONO2, and combinations thereof.
