Myosin Synthesis Increased by Electrical Stimulation of Skeletal Muscle Cell Cultures

Abstract

When cultures of skeletal muscle cells of the chick embryo are subjected to repetitive, electrical stimulation, the contractions increase the amount of protein produced by these cells. The increase is greater for contractile proteins such as myosin heavy chain than for total cellular protein. This demonstrates that in a culture system of skeletal muscle cells that have differentiated in the absence of innervation, one can elicit the protein synthetic response associated with skeletal muscle hypertrophy in vivo.

Cellular Mechanisms Regulating Activity-Dependent Release of Native Brain-Derived Neurotrophic Factor from Hippocampal Neurons

“…After an initial 3 d incubation, two adjacent culture wells were connected to each other through a thin strip of 1% agarose gel permeated with culture medium and to the stimulator (MultiStim System; Digitimer, Hertfordshire, UK) through Ag /AgC l stimulating electrodes (Balkowiec and Katz, 2000) (modified from Brevet et al, 1976;McDonough et al, 1994). T wo additional wells were also connected to each other by agarose bridges but were not connected to the stimulator and served as controls.…”

Establishment of a Simple and Practical Procedure Applicable to Therapeutic Angiogenesis

“…Confluent cultures were electrically stimulated at 1.0 V of stimulus strength and at indicated frequencies (Hz) for an indicated period, according to the method described by Brevet and Pinto. 12 …”

Acceleration of Myofiber Formation in Culture by a Digitized Synaptic Signal

“…Such studies typically use high-voltage artificial stimulation. 10,[13][14][15][16][17][18] We did not examine the impact of the synaptic signal on inducing twitching. Of interest would be to examine the efficacy of this and/or a more extensive synaptic stimulation regimen on twitching on cultured myofibers.…”

“…A variety of electrical stimulation protocols have been developed to induce muscle cell differentiation. Application of signals from 1 to 50 V induced differentiation, 10,[13][14][15][16][17][18] while those of 100 mV were ineffective, 11 suggesting the existence of a voltage threshold to foster differentiation.…”

“…[10][11][12][13][14] These approaches attempt to mimic developmental cues using a multi-volt electrical stimulation to induce differentiation of myoblast cells in vitro. A variety of electrical stimulation protocols have been developed to induce muscle cell differentiation.…”