Myogenesis and regeneration of skeletal muscle: possible modulation by linoleic acid

Abstract

Laceration is a serious skeletal muscle injury that presents an incomplete regeneration and marked decrease in muscle strength. Skeletal muscle regeneration depends on satellite cells (muscle stem cells) activation, proliferation and differentiation to form new fibers. The purpose of the present research project is to investigate the effect of the treatment with linoleic acid upon regeneration of rat skeletal muscle. The following parameters will be evaluated: content of markers of skeletal muscle regeneration (neonatal myosin and desmin), fibrosis (vimentin and alpha-smooth actin), skeletal muscle function (strength and acute fatigue) and histological analysis of regenerated muscle. The effect of linoleic and arachidonic (a derivated-product of linoleic acid metabolism) acids upon proliferation and myogenic differentiation of muscle stem cells in vitro will be also investigated. The effect of ciclo-oxygenases (COX) inhibitors and delta-5 and delta-6 dessaturase upon myogenesis will be also evaluated. Preliminary evidences from our research group showed that fatty acids as oleic acid accelerated the myogenesis through the modulation of Notch and Beta-Catenin pathway. (AU)