The isolated muscle fibre as a model of disuse atrophy: characterization using PhAct, a method to quantify f-actin.

ABSTRACT: Research into muscle atrophy and hypertrophy is hampered by limitations of the available experimental models. Interpretation of in vivo experiments is confounded by the complexity of the environment while in vitro models are subject to the marked disparities between cultured myotubes and the mature myofibres of living tissues. Here we develop a method (PhAct) based on ex vivo maintenance of the isolated myofibre as a model of disuse atrophy, using standard microscopy equipment and widely available analysis software, to measure f-actin content per myofibre and per nucleus over two weeks of ex vivo maintenance. We characterize the 35% per week atrophy of the isolated myofibre in terms of early changes in gene expression and investigate the effects on loss of muscle mass of modulatory agents,

SUBMITTER: Duddy WJ 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC3148270 | biostudies-literature | 2011 Aug

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature