Studies of muscle development. I. Changes in cell proliferation.
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The nude mouse lacks functional T cells and other skin defects due to the absence of Foxn1 transcription factor. The mdx mouse bred onto a nude background (Foxn1-/-), to generate mdx nu/nu, serves as a valuable model for the use in muscle cell transplantation or gene therapy studies, to avoid a detrimental immune response. However, it has been shown previously that the mdx nu/nu mice have a skeletal muscle specific alteration in collagen production, which in the case of the limb muscles acts at or before the onset of the disease. This led to the conclusion that the nude mutation has an effect on the collagen deposition in skeletal muscles, which may be acting in a T cell independent manner. In an attempt to elucidate the role of the nude mutation on collagen production in skeletal muscles, we have measured collagen levels in several muscles of C57BL/10 nu/nu mice and compared them with mdx nu/nu and Foxn1+/+ control mice. We report here that the limb muscles of the young C57BL/10 nu/nu and mdx nu/nu mice contained a far higher proportion of collagen at an early age than Foxn1+/- control mice but regained normal levels by 12 weeks of age. This was largely attributable to the fact that 3 weeks old nude mice had considerably smaller limb muscles than Foxn1+/- mice which subsequently grew to normal size. We conclude that the nude mutation retards the early growth of development of muscle but not of the matrix tissue in limb muscles.
To determine the role of the nerve in regulating the accumulation of cytoplasmic creatine kinase (CK) mRNAs in hindleg muscles of the developing mouse, the lumbosacral spinal cords of 14-day gestation mice (E14) were laser ablated, and the accumulation of muscle CK (MCK) and brain CK (BCK) mRNAs was evaluated just prior to birth with in situ hybridization. Numbers of molecules of each of these transcripts/ng total RNA in the soleus and extensor digitorum longus (EDL) muscles were determined with competitive PCR and compared to transcripts found in innervated crural muscles. Data suggest that: 1) the level of BCK mRNA accumulation in innervated hindlimb muscles peaks at E16.5 and remains at fetal levels until the second month postnatal, when it falls to the level found in the adult. Given that MCK transcripts meet or exceed adult levels by day 28 postnatal, the "down-regulation" of the BCK gene and the "up-regulation" of the MCK gene are not tightly coupled; 2) the developmental switch from BCK to MCK, as the dominant cytoplasmic CK mRNA, occurs in innervated and aneural leg muscles between E14 and E16.5, indicating this switch is not nerve dependent; 3) the absence of innervation has no effect on BCK mRNA accumulation. MCK transcripts/ng total RNA continue to increase in aneural muscle throughout the late fetal period, but from E16.5-E19.5 the MCK transcript levels in aneural muscles become progressively lower than in age-matched innervated muscles. Thus, the accumulation of the muscle specific cytoplasmic CK, but not BCK, transcripts is affected by the absence of innervation during the fetal period. Dev Dyn 1999;215:285-296.
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1. The development of Ca2+ and K+ currents was studied in ascidian muscle cells at twelve embryonic stages from gastrulation to the mature cell, a period of 24 h. A high degree of co-ordination occurs between the development of the inwardly rectifying K+ current (IK(IR)), which sets the resting potential, and Ca2+ and outward K+ currents, which determine action potential waveform. 2. At neurulation IK(IR), which had been present since fertilization, begins to decrease, reaching 12% of its previous density in 6 h. IK(IR) then immediately begins to increase again, reaching its previous density in another 6 h. 3. When IK(IR) begins to decrease, a high-threshold inactivating Ca2+ current and a slowly activating voltage-gated K+ current appear. 4. When IK(IR) returns to its previous density, two new currents appear: a sustained Ca2+ current with the same voltage dependence, but different conotoxin sensitivity than the inactivating Ca2+ current; and a Ca(2+)-dependent K+ current, which activates 8-10 times faster and at potentials 20-30 mV more negative than the voltage-dependent K+ current. 5. The transient downregulation of IK(IR) destabilizes the resting potential and causes spontaneous action potentials to occur. Because IK(IR) is absent when only a slowly activating high-threshold outward K+ current is present, these action potentials are long in duration. 6. The return of IK(IR) and the appearance of the rapidly activating Ca(2+)-dependent K+ current eventually terminate this activity. The action potentials of the mature cell occur only on stimulation, and are 10 times shorter in duration than those in the immature cell.
The myogenic basic helix-loop-helix transcription factor myogenin plays an essential role in the differentiation of skeletal muscle and, secondarily, in rib and sternum formation during mouse development. However, virtually nothing is known about the quantitative requirements for myogenin in these processes. Here, we describe the generation of mice carrying a hypomorphic allele of myogenin, which expresses myogenin transcripts at approximately one-fourth the level of the wild-type myogenin allele. The hypomorphic allele in combination with wild-type and myogenin-null alleles was used to create an allelic series. Embryos representing the complete range of genotypes from homozygous wild type to homozygous null were analyzed for their viability, ability to form normal ribs and sternum, and extent of skeletal muscle differentiation. Embryos carrying the hypomorphic myogenin allele over a wild-type allele were normal. In embryos bearing homozygous hypomorphic alleles, the sternum developed normally and extensive skeletal muscle differentiation occurred. However, muscle hypoplasia and reduced muscle-specific gene expression were apparent in these embryos, and the mice were not viable as neonates. When the hypomorphic allele was placed over a myogenin-null allele, the resulting embryos had sternum defects resembling homozygous myogenin-null embryos, and there was severe muscle hypoplasia. Our results demonstrate that skeletal muscle formation is highly sensitive to the absolute levels of myogenin and that correct sternum formation, skeletal muscle differentiation, and viability each require distinct threshold levels of myogenin.
SM-20 is a novel, evolutionarily conserved "early response" gene originally cloned from a rat aortic smooth muscle cell (SMC) cDNA library. SM-20 encodes a cytoplasmic protein, which is induced by platelet-derived growth factor and angiotensin II in cultured SMC and is upregulated in intimal SMC of atherosclerotic plaques and injured arteries. We have now examined SM-20 expression during differentiation of cultured skeletal myoblasts and during skeletal myogenesis in vivo. Low levels of SM-20 mRNA and protein were expressed in proliferating mouse C2C12 myoblasts. Differentiation by serum withdrawal was associated with a marked induction of SM-20 mRNA and the expression of high levels of SM-20 antigen in myotubes. The induction was partially inhibited by blocking differentiation with bFGF or TGFbeta. Similar results were obtained with the nonfusing mouse C25 myoblast line, suggesting that SM-20 upregulation is a consequence of biochemical differentiation and is fusion independent. During mouse embryogenesis, SM-20 was first observed at 8.5E in the dermomyotomal cells of the rostral somites. SM-20 expression progressed in a rostral to caudal pattern, with highest levels seen in the muscle primordia and mature muscles. SM-20 thus represents a novel intracellular protein that is regulated during skeletal muscle differentiation and development.
Tissue morphogenesis during development is regulated by growth factors and cytokines, and is characterized by constant remodeling of extracellular matrix (ECM) in response to signaling molecules, for example, growth factors, cytokines, and so forth. Proteoglycans that bind growth factors are potential regulators of tissue morphogenesis during embryonic development. In this study, we showed that transgenic mice overexpressing biglycan under the keratocan promoter exhibited exposure keratitis and premature eye opening from noninfectious eyelid ulceration due to perturbation of eyelid muscle formation and the failure of meibomian gland formation. In addition, in vitro analysis revealed that biglycan binds to TGF-alpha, thus interrupting EGFR signaling pathways essential for mesenchymal cell migration induced by eyelid epithelium. The defects of TGF-alpha signaling by excess biglycan were further augmented by the interruption of the autocrine or paracrine loop of the EGFR signaling pathway of HB-EGF expression elicited by TGF-alpha. These results are consistent with the notion that under physiological conditions, biglycan secreted by mesenchymal cells serves as a regulatory molecule for the formation of a TGF-alpha gradient serving as a morphogen of eyelid morphogenesis.
The troponin I (TnI) gene of Drosophila melanogaster encodes a family of 10 isoforms resulting from the differential splicing of 13 exons. Four of these exons (6a1, 6a2, 6b1, and 6b2) are mutually exclusive and very similar in sequence. TnI isoforms show qualitative specificity whereby each muscle expresses a selected repertoire of them. In addition, TnI isoforms show quantitative specificity whereby each muscle expresses characteristic amounts of each isoform. In the mutant heldup3, the development of the thoracic muscles DLM, DVM, and TDT is aborted. The mutation consists of a one-nucleotide displacement of the 3' AG splice site at the intron preceding exon 6b1, resulting in the failure to produce all exon 6b1-containing TnI isoforms. These molecular changes in a constituent of the thin filaments cause the selective failure to develop the DLM, DVM, and TDT muscles while having no visible effect on other muscles wherein exon 6b1 expression is minor.
Xenopus myogenesis is characterized by specific features, different from those of mammalian and avian systems both at the cellular level and in gene expression patterns. During early embryogenesis, after the initial molecular signals inducing mesoderm, the myogenic determination factors XMyoD and XMyf-5 are activated in presomitic mesoderm in response to mesoderm-inducing factors. After these first inductions of the myogenic program, forming muscles in Xenopus can have different destinies, some of these resulting in cell death before adulthood. In particular, it is quite characteristic of this species that, during metamorphosis, the primary myotomal myofibers completely die and are progressively replaced by secondary "adult" multinucleated myofibers. This feature offers the unique opportunity to totally separate the molecular analysis of these two distinct types of myogenesis. The aim of this review is to summarize our knowledge on the cellular and molecular events as well as the epigenetic regulations involved in the construction of Xenopus muscles during development.
Formation of the vascular system requires differentiation and patterning of endothelial and smooth muscle cells (SMCs). Although much attention has focused on development of the vascular endothelial network, the mechanisms that control vascular SMC development are largely unknown. Myocardin is a smooth and cardiac muscle-specific transcriptional coactivator of serum response factor, a ubiquitous transcription factor implicated in smooth muscle gene expression. When expressed ectopically in nonmuscle cells, myocardin can induce smooth muscle differentiation by its association with serum response factor. Here we report that mouse embryos homozygous for a myocardin loss-of-function mutation die by embryonic day 10.5 and show no evidence of vascular SMC differentiation. Myocardin is the only transcription factor known to be necessary and sufficient for vascular SMC differentiation.
Ultrastructural study of the M. complexus muscle of the chick embryo has demonstrated two populations of fibres: the more common is the normal myotube or muscle fibre, which was observed in various stages of development; the other shows myofibrillar contractions which, at their greatest degree, produce the appearance of an amorphous mass of myofilaments. The contracted fibre had rounded and swollen mitochondria, and vacuoles (autophagic) containing glycogen, and it exhibited a cleavage of the cell which isolated the nuclear region from the main body of the fibre. When the fibres were less contracted they resembled degenerative mammalian fast-twitch-oxidative-glycolytic fibres after immobilization. The more normal fibre population was identical with that of the pectoralis muscle, which was used as a control. These results suggest that the contracted fibres are degenerating, which agrees with conclusions by earlier investigators using light miscroscopy.
An understanding of the mechanical and mechano-molecular responses that occur during the differentiation of mouse C2C12 [corrected] myoblasts in 3-D culture is critical for understanding growth, which is important for progress towards producing a tissue-engineered muscle construct. We have established the main differences in force generation between skeletal myoblasts, dermal fibroblasts, and smooth muscle cells in a 3-D culture model in which cells contract a collagen gel construct. This model was developed to provide a reproducible 3-D muscle organoid in which differences in force generation could be measured, as the skeletal myoblasts fused to form myotubes within a collagen gel. Maintenance of the 3-D culture under sustained uni-axial tension, was found to promote fusion of myoblasts to form aligned multi-nucleate myotubes. Gene expression of both Insulin Like Growth Factor (IGF-1 Ea) and an isoform of IGF-1 Ea, Mechano-growth factor (IGF-1 Eb, also termed MGF), was monitored in this differentiating collagen construct over the time course of fusion and maturation (0-7 days). This identified a transient surge in both IGF-1 and MGF expression on day 3 of the developing construct. This peak of IGF-1 and MGF expression, just prior to differentiation, was consistent with the idea that IGF-1 stimulates differentiation through a Myogenin pathway [Florini et al., 1991: Mol. Endocrinol. 5:718-724]. MGF gene expression was increased 77-fold on day 3, compared to a 36-fold increase with IGF-1 on day 3. This indicates an important role for MGF in either differentiation or, more likely, a response to mechanical or tensional cues.
Antibodies to a cytoplasmic myosin, rat lymphoma myosin, and to rat skeletal myosin were prepared in rabbits and shown to be specific for their corresponding antigens. The two antibodies did not cross-react. The skeletal myosin antibody was directly labeled with rhodamine, and the cytoplasmic myosin antibody was detected by indirect immunofluorescence with fluorescein-labeled goat anti-rabbit antibody. The two antibodies were used to examine developing rat muscle cultures for the presence and location of the antigens. The antibody to cytoplasmic myosin reacted with multinucleated myotubes and with all the mononucleated cells in the culture. The antibody to skeletal myosin reacted with myotubes and with a small fraction of the mononucleated cells. In the myotubes, the cytoplasmic myosin appeared to be localized primarily in two structures: fine stress fibers, often visible also by phase microscopy and present predominantly in the ends of the cells, and in a submembranous rim all along the cell's border. In addition, a diffuse fluorescence within the cells was observed. The skeletal myosin was localized in the central part of the myotubes in sarcomeres or in fibers without periodicities and was excluded from the ends of the myotubes. When the same cells were doubly stained with the two antibodies, the complementary distribution of the two isozymes was very clear. There was also a narrow region of overlap of staining, with cytoplasmic myosin present in some stress fibers that appeared to be continuous with fibrous elements containing skeletal myosin. Myotubes that rounded up with cytochalasin B or with trypsin displayed a diffuse distribution of both isozymes. When these cells were allowed to respread into extended configurations, the location of the two myosins were essentially the same as in untreated cells. The ability of myotubes to adhere to the surface and to move in culture may be related to the presence of cytoplasmic myosin. Our results show that in myotubes and myoblasts the two isozymes differ sufficiently to be localized in distinct regions of the cell and to be sorted out into different structures, even after the cytoplasmic contents have been reshuffled. The cell can, by some unknown mechanism, distinguish the two myosins.
We applied fluorescence staining of F-actin, confocal laser scanning microscopy, as well as bright-field light microscopy, SEM, and TEM to examine myogenesis in larval and early juvenile stages of the tusk-shell, Antalis entalis. Myogenesis follows a strict bilaterally symmetrical pattern without special larval muscle systems. The paired cephalic and foot retractors appear synchronously in the early trochophore-like larva. In late larvae, both retractors form additional fibers that project into the anterior region, thus enabling retraction of the larval prototroch. These fibers, together with the prototroch, disappear during metamorphosis. The anlagen of the putative foot musculature, mantle retractors, and buccal musculature are formed in late larval stages. The cephalic captacula and their musculature are of postmetamorphic origin. Development of the foot musculature is dramatically pronounced after metamorphosis and results in a dense muscular grid consisting of outer ring, intermediate diagonal, and inner longitudinal fibers. This is in accordance with the proposed function of the foot as a burrowing organ based on muscle-antagonistic activity. The existence of a distinct pair of cephalic retractors, which is also found in basal gastropods and cephalopods, as well as new data on scaphopod shell morphogenesis and recent cladistic analyses, indicate that the Scaphopoda may be more closely related to the Gastropoda and Cephalopoda than to the Bivalvia.
Patterned neural activity modifies central synapses during development and the physiological properties of skeletal muscle by selectively repressing or stimulating transcription of distinct genes. The effects of neural activity are mostly mediated by calcium. Of particular interest are the cellular mechanisms that may be used to sense and convert changes in calcium into specific alterations in gene expression. Recent studies have addressed the importance of spatial heterogeneity or of temporal changes in calcium levels for the regulation of gene expression.