Ciliary neurotrophic factor stimulates in vivo myotube formation in mice

Abstract

It is known that ciliary neurotrophic factor (CNTF) administration reduces the atrophy observed with denervation, suggesting its role as a trophic factor for muscle cells. At the present, we studied the effects of `in vivo' CNTF administration on the regenerative capacity of skeletal muscle fibres. Adult mice had their extensor digitorium longus muscle subjected to a denervation-devascularization lesion. CNTF (0.5 ng/ μl) was administered using osmotic pumps implanted subcutaneously in unrestrained mice. CNTF was delivered into the muscle's region at a rate of 1 μl/h from 1 to 8 days after denervation. The results show that CNTF increased the number of regenerating myofibres by day 4. From day 7 on, the values seen on control and CNTF-treated groups were not significantly different. Our results show that `in vivo' CNTF administration accelerates myotube differentiation.