Abstract
THE skeletal muscle fibre is a long, multinucleated cell formed by fusion of mononuclear precursor cells (myoblasts) with one another1–3 and with muscle cells in various stages of maturity4,5. In subjects suffering from inherited recessive myopathies, muscle function might be restored if normal myoblasts could be made to fuse with defective muscle fibres during muscle growth or regeneration. Such a method of introducing new genetic information into muscle fibres requires that myoblasts can enter a region of growing or regenerating muscle, and that these myoblasts can participate in the formation of new muscle fibres by fusion with locally derived cells. Recently we have shown, using isoenzymes of malate dehydrogenase as markers, that host muscle cell precursors can enter muscle grafts6. Here we present evidence, based on the use of a more sensitive isoenzyme marker, that fusion can occur between host and donor muscle cell precursors.
This is a preview of subscription content, access via your institution
Access options
Subscribe to this journal
Receive 51 print issues and online access
$199.00 per year
only $3.90 per issue
Buy this article
- Purchase on Springer Link
- Instant access to full article PDF
Prices may be subject to local taxes which are calculated during checkout
Similar content being viewed by others
References
Konigsberg, I. R. Expl cell Res. 21, 414–420 (1960).
Mintz, B. & Baker, W. W. Proc. natn. Acad. Sci. U.S.A. 58, 592–598 (1967).
Sloper, J. C. & Pegrum, G. D. J. Path. Bact. 93, 47–63 (1967).
Lash, J. W., Holtzer, H. & Swift, H. Anat. Rec. 128, 679–697 (1957).
Moss, F. P. & Leblond, C. P. Anat. Rec. 170, 421–436 (1971).
Partridge, T. A. & Sloper, J. C. J. neural. Sci. 33, 425–435 (1977).
Gearhart, J. D. & Mintz, B. Devl Biol. 29, 27–37 (1972).
Billingham, R. E. & Brent, L. Phil. Trans. R. Soc. Lond. B 242, 437–477 (1959).
Curtis, A. S. G. Med. biol. Illust. 10, 261–266 (1960).
Carlson, B. M. Am. J. Anat. 137, 119–150 (1973).
Elson, J. Am. J. Path. 5, 425–438 (1929).
Matheson, D. W. J. neurol. Sci. 21, 133–164 (1974).
Gutmann, E., Hasek, M. & Chutná, J. Transplantation 16, 73–76 (1973).
Neerunjun, J. S. & Dubowitz, V. Clin. Sci. molec. Med. 46, 555–558 (1974).
Studitsky, A. N. Dokl. Akad. Nauk S.S.S.R. 84, 389–392 (1952).
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
PARTRIDGE, T., GROUNDS, M. & SLOPER, J. Evidence of fusion between host and donor myoblasts in skeletal muscle grafts. Nature 273, 306–308 (1978). https://doi.org/10.1038/273306a0
Received:
Accepted:
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/273306a0
Comments
By submitting a comment you agree to abide by our Terms and Community Guidelines. If you find something abusive or that does not comply with our terms or guidelines please flag it as inappropriate.