Biophysical stimuli induced by passive movements compensate for lack of skeletal muscle during embryonic skeletogenesis.

ABSTRACT: In genetically modified mice with abnormal skeletal muscle development, bones and joints are differentially affected by the lack of skeletal muscle. We hypothesise that unequal levels of biophysical stimuli in the developing humerus and femur can explain the differential effects on these rudiments when muscle is absent. We find that the expression patterns of four mechanosensitive genes important for endochondral ossification are differentially affected in muscleless limb mutants, with more extreme changes in the expression in the humerus than in the femur. Using finite element analysis, we show that the biophysical stimuli induced by muscle forces are similar in the humerus and femur, implying that the removal of muscle contractile forces should, in theory, affect the rudiments equally. H

SUBMITTER: Nowlan NC 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC4794622 | biostudies-literature | 2012 Jan

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature