AJP - Cell Physiology, Vol 256, Issue 3 C674-C682, Copyright © 1989 by American Physiological Society

ARTICLES

Skeletal muscle growth is stimulated by intermittent stretch-relaxation in tissue culture

H. H. Vandenburgh, S. Hatfaludy, P. Karlisch and J. Shansky
Department of Pathology, Brown University, Providence, Rhode Island.

Avian pectoralis muscle cells differentiated in vitro are mechanically stimulated by repetitive stretch-relaxation of the cell's substratum using a computerized mechanical cell stimulator device. Initiation of mechanical stimulation increases the efflux of creatine kinase from the cells during the first 8-10 h of activity, but the efflux rate returns to control levels after this time period. Decreased total cell protein content accompanies the temporary elevation of creatine kinase efflux. With continued mechanical stimulation for 48-72 h, total cell protein loss recovers and significantly increases in medium supplemented with serum and embryo extract. Myotube diameters increase and cell hyperplasia occurs in the stimulated cultures. In basal medium without supplements, mechanical activity prevents myotube atrophy but does not lead to cell growth. Mechanically induced growth is accompanied by significant increases in protein synthesis rates. The increases in protein synthesis and accumulation induced by mechanical stimulation are not inhibited by tetrodotoxin but are significantly reduced in basal medium without supplements. Mechanically stimulated cell growth is thus dependent on medium growth factors but independent of electrical activity.

This article has been cited by other articles:

				C. B. Mantilla and G. C. Sieck Key aspects of phrenic motoneuron and diaphragm muscle development during the perinatal period J Appl Physiol, June 1, 2008; 104(6): 1818 - 1827. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				C. A. Powell, B. L. Smiley, J. Mills, and H. H. Vandenburgh Mechanical stimulation improves tissue-engineered human skeletal muscle Am J Physiol Cell Physiol, November 1, 2002; 283(5): C1557 - C1565. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				S. EBIHARA, S. N. A. HUSSAIN, G. DANIALOU, W.-K. CHO, S. B. GOTTFRIED, and B. J. PETROF Mechanical Ventilation Protects against Diaphragm Injury in Sepsis . Interaction of Oxidative and Mechanical Stresses Am. J. Respir. Crit. Care Med., January 15, 2002; 165(2): 221 - 228. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				J. G. Tidball, M. J. Spencer, M. Wehling, and E. Lavergne Nitric-oxide Synthase Is a Mechanical Signal Transducer That Modulates Talin and Vinculin Expression J. Biol. Chem., November 12, 1999; 274(46): 33155 - 33160. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				H. VANDENBURGH, J. CHROMIAK, J. SHANSKY, MICHAEL DEL TATTO, and J. LEMAIRE Space travel directly induces skeletal muscle atrophy FASEB J, June 1, 1999; 13(9): 1031 - 1038. [Abstract] [Full Text]

				J. Frenette and J. G. Tidball Mechanical loading regulates expression of talin and its mRNA, which are concentrated at myotendinous junctions Am J Physiol Cell Physiol, September 1, 1998; 275(3): C818 - C825. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				D. A. Hubatsch and B. J. Jasmin Mechanical stimulation increases expression of acetylcholinesterase in cultured myotubes Am J Physiol Cell Physiol, December 1, 1997; 273(6): C2002 - C2009. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]