Myogenic Zones Research Articles

Fetal Rat Gubernaculum Mesenchymal Cells Adopt Myogenic and Myofibroblast-Like Phenotypes

Gubernaculum-cremaster complex development is hormonally regulated and abnormal in a cryptorchid rat model. Using cell tracking techniques and imaging we studied myogenic phenotypes and fates in the fetal rat gubernaculum-cremaster complex. Embryonic day 17 gubernaculum-cremaster complexes were labeled with CellTracker™ or the DNA synthesis marker EdU (5-ethynyl-2'-deoxyuridine), or immobilized in Matrigel® and grown in culture. Embryonic day 17 to 21 gubernaculum-cremaster complex sections and cells were imaged using wide field and deconvolution immunofluorescence microscopy, and muscle and/or myofibroblast specific antibodies. Deconvolved image stacks were used to create a 3-dimensional model of embryonic day 21 gubernaculum-cremaster complex muscle. PAX7 (paired box 7) positive and myogenin positive muscle precursors were visible in a desmin-rich myogenic zone between muscle layers that elongated and became thicker during development. Gubernaculum-cremaster complex inner mesenchymal cells expressed desmin and αSMA (α smooth muscle actin) at lower levels than in the myogenic zone. After pulse labeling withCellTracker or EdU mesenchymal cells became incorporated into differentiated muscle. Conversely, mesenchymal cells migrated beyond Matrigel immobilized gubernaculum-cremaster complexes, expressed PAX7 and fused to form striated myotubes. Mesenchymal gubernaculum-cremaster complex cell lines proliferated more than 40 passages and showed contractile behavior but did not form striated muscle. Our 3-dimensional gubernaculum-cremaster complex model had 2 orthogonal ventral layers and an arcing inner layer of muscle. Our data suggest that mesenchymal cells in the peripheral myogenic zone of the fetal gubernaculum-cremaster complex contribute to formation of a distinctively patterned cremaster muscle. Nonmyogenic, desmin and αSMA positive gubernaculum-cremaster complex mesenchymal cells proliferate and have a myofibroblast-like phenotype in culture. Intrinsic mechanical properties of these divergent cell types may facilitate perinatal inversion of the gubernaculum-cremaster complex.

Regulation of gene expression mediating indeterminate muscle growth in teleosts

Teleosts are unique among vertebrates due to their indeterminate muscle growth, i.e., continued production of neonatal muscle fibers until death. However, the molecular mechanism(s) underlying this property is unknown. Here, we focused on the torafugu (Takifugu rubripes) myosin heavy chain gene, MYHM2528-1, which is specifically expressed in neonatal muscle fibers produced by indeterminate muscle growth. We examined the flanking region of MYHM2528-1 through an in vivo reporter assay using zebrafish (Danio rerio) and identified a 2100 bp 5′-flanking sequence that contained sufficient promoter activity to allow specific gene expression. The effects of enhanced promoter activity were observed at the outer region of the fast muscle and the dorsal edge of slow muscle in zebrafish larvae. At the juvenile stage, the promoter was specifically activated in small diameter muscle fibers scattered throughout fast muscle and in slow muscle near the septum separating slow and fast muscles. This spatio-temporal promoter activity overlapped with known myogenic zones involved in teleost indeterminate muscle growth. A deletion mutant analysis revealed that the −2100 to −600 bp 5′flanking sequence of MYHM2528-1 is essential for promoter activity. This region contains putative binding sites for several representative myogenesis-related transcription factors and nuclear factor of activated T-cell (NFAT), a transcription activator involved in regeneration of mammalian adult skeletal muscle. A significant reduction in the promoter activity of the MYHM2528-1 deletion constructs was observed in accordance with a reduction in the number of these binding sites, suggesting the involvement of specific transcription factors in indeterminate muscle growth.

Limb muscle development.

Skeletal muscle precursors for the limbs originate from the epithelial layer of the somites, the dermomyotomes. We summarize the steps of limb muscle development from the specification of precursor cells in the dermomyotome, the directed migration of these cells to and within the limb buds to muscle growth and differentiation. All steps are controlled by local signaling between embryonic structures. In dermomyotome development, signals from the neural tube, the ectoderm and the intermediate and lateral mesoderm result in a medio-lateral patterning. Only the lateral portions of the dermomyotomes give rise to muscle precursor cells destined to enter the limb buds. As a prerequisite for migration, precursor cells have to de-epithelialize as a result of interactions between SF/HGF and its receptor c-met. Precursor cells adopt a mesenchymal morphology without losing their myogenic specification. This is achieved by the expression of the transcription factors Pax3, Pax7 and myf5. During migration, premature differentiation has to be kept at bay to enable motility and proliferation. After having reached their target sites, the dorsal and ventral myogenic zones, myogenesis is initiated by the activation of the muscle determination factors MyoD, myogenin and MRF4. Finally, we briefly summarize the process of muscle hypertrophy and regeneration during which aspects of developmental processes are reinitiated.

N-Cadherin Is Involved in Myoblast Migration and Muscle Differentiation in the Avian Limb Bud

Limb muscle formation involves invasion of the limb bud mesoderm by myogenic precursor cells from the dermomyotomes at limb bud level. Directed cell migration, homing, and differentiation of myogenic cells are controlled by the stationary cells of the limb bud mesoderm. At the level of the extracellular matrix, the molecular basis of migration control has been suggested to be exerted by the distribution of hyaluronan. Here, we demonstrate thatN-cadherin-mediated interactions play a role at cell-membrane level in myoblast distribution and differentiation.N-cadherin is strongly expressed by myogenic cells in the chick limb bud and more moderately expressed by stationary mesodermal cells in the myogenic zones and progress zone. Afterin vivoinjection of antibodies and Fab-fragments against the homophilic binding site ofN-cadherin into the wing bud mesoderm, aggregates of myoblasts are found predominantly in the dorsal myogenic zone 36 hr after injection apparently due to immobilization. In the same position, areas of myf-5-positive cells are also observed. In injected limb buds,Pax-3-positive cells are less evenly distributed than in uninjected limbs. They are found to spread up to the epidermis and also form loosely arranged aggregates. After prolonged reincubation periods, injected limbs show ectopic myoblasts that are rich in desmin and areas of strongly desmin-expressing myoblasts within muscle blastemas. These effects were not observed after application of antibodies against other parts of theN-cadherin molecule. We conclude thatN-cadherin is involved in myoblast migration in the limb buds via homophilic interactions and that it plays a role in signal transduction during myogenesis.

Development of the locomotory muscle of the chaetognath Sagitta. 1. Quantitative and qualitative aspects of the body and muscle tissue development within the phylum

The Chaetognath primary muscle constitutes the main tissue of the body-wall. It is made up of four main longitudinal bands. Muscle fibres are separated from the nervous system. During muscle growth, four myogenic zones produce two types of fibres A and B. forming units. These units ordered in an epithelial-like tissue, show various kind of intercellular junctions. For a given animal, the overall number of A and B fibres units is practically the same in each band. The four myogenic areas are the centre for a two-phase production of A and B fibres which appear at a regular rate in each quadrant, by the simultaneous production of three sets of A fibres and two sets of B fibres. The former differentiate at once, the latter some time later, and always at the same moment in their lives. In this way the number of sets of A and B fibres increases during the animal's life. This hyperplasia is accompanied by the hypertrophy of the cells which make up each group. For any given animal, the ventral quadrants are thicker than the dorsal quadrants. Chaetognath locomotory muscle is a good model on which to study the development of a skeletal muscle. Its development is closely related to the hydroskeleton growth, to the animal's shape and various other constructional factors which play a central role in this very isolated phylum.

Pattern of skeletal muscle regeneration after reautotransplantation of regenerated muscle

Autotransplantation of rat extensor digitorum longus muscle results in initial myofibre degeneration and subsequent regeneration from precursor myosatellite cells. To determine what effect a reinjury would have on the regenerative response, in the present study, once transplanted and regenerated muscles were reinjured by reautotransplantation. In rats, four weeks after initial transplantation, when the regeneration was complete, the extensor digitorum longus muscle was transplanted again and the pattern of regeneration in reautotransplanted and once autotransplanted muscles was compared. Muscles were analysed 2, 4, 7, 14 and 30 days after autotransplantation and reautotransplantation. Both autotransplanted and reautotransplanted muscles underwent degeneration and regeneration; however, the pattern of regeneration in these two transplants was quite different. In autotransplants, a thin myogenic zone, marked by activated myoblasts, was first seen at 4 days. By 7 days the width of myogenic zone increased but still many degenerating myofibres were present in the central region of the muscle. By 14 days the muscle was filled with regenerated myotubes and myofibres. The reautotransplanted muscles underwent similar regenerative events; however, the rate of regeneration was considerably faster. The myogenic zone was apparent as early as 2 days and was much larger at 4 days, and by 7 days the entire muscle was filled with regenerated myotubes and myofibres which matured at later time intervals. Furthermore, the decrease in muscle weight in reautotransplanted muscles was not as much as that seen after autotransplantation. These findings reveal that not only is skeletal muscle capable of regeneration after a second injury, but the rate of this regeneration is much faster. This increased rate and recovery may be due to a conditioning effect of the first injury.

An immunofluorescent analysis of lectin binding to normal and regenerating skeletal muscle of rat.

Ten different fluorescein-conjugated lectins of various known sugar specificities were used to study cell surface glycoconjugates of normal and regenerating rat skeletal muscle. In normal muscle, Canavalia ensiformis agglutinin, Triticum vulgaris agglutinin (wheat germ agglutinin, WGA), Ricinus communis agglutinin-I, and Maclura pomifera agglutinin bound strongly to the endomysial region of the myofibers. No binding was observed in the cytoplasm of the myofibers. Other lectins (Dolichos biflorus agglutinin, Griffonia simplifolia agglutinin I and II, Ulex europaeus agglutinin, Arachis hypogaea agglutinin, Glycine max agglutinin) bound very poorly or not at all in the normal muscle. Skeletal muscle degeneration and regeneration was induced by autotransplantation of the extensor digitorum longus muscle. In the transplanted muscles, the endomysial lectin binding of the degenerating myofibers became weak and lacked continuity, indicating a breakdown of the endomysium. Of all the lectins tested, only WGA revealed intense binding in the myogenic zone of regenerating muscle. As the regeneration progressed, this WGA binding became restricted to the new endomysium. In completely regenerated muscle, binding of all lectins was similar to that seen in normal muscle. The specific binding of WGA to the myogenic zone may be important in identifying factors or glycoconjugates, which constitute a favorable environment for skeletal muscle regeneration.