Expression of ARPP-16/19 in rat denervated skeletal muscle

It is known that denervation of rat skeletal muscle causes atrophy and this is often adopted as a model for human muscle atrophy. To understand the molecular changes that occur, it is important to identify the profiles of differential gene expression. In the present study, we investigated differentially expressed genes in denervated muscle using DNA microarrays with printed genes preferentially expressed in skeletal muscle. We found that several genes are differentially expressed. Of these genes, ARPP-16/19 (cAMP-regulated phosphoprotein 16/19) is selectively enhanced after denervation. The expression of ARPP-16/19 in denervated muscles starts to increase from two days after denervation surgery. On the other hand, the expression of ARPP-16/19 does not change in hind-limb suspended muscles, such as EDL and soleus muscles. These results suggest that the increase in ARPP-16/19 mRNA expression is regulated by unknown factor(s) secreted from nerves, and not by electrical muscle activity.