Immunohistochemical detection of myogenin and p21 in methylcholanthrene-induced mouse rhabdomyosarcomas

3-Methylcholanthrene (MC)-induced 10 embryonal (ERSs) and 24 pleomorphic rhabdomyosarcomas (PRSs) of the dermis in mouse were examined immunohistochemically for myogenin, p21 and proliferating cell nuclear antigen (PCNA) nuclear reactivity and myosin reactivity. ERSs had higher expression of myogenin and p21 compared with that of myosin. PRSs were divided into two groups having high (moderate or marked reactivity; HLM) and low (mild reactivity; LLM) levels of myosin expression. Expression of p21 was higher in HLM-PRSs than in LLM-PRSs. Statistically significant association was observed between myosin and p21 expression in PRSs, but not between myosin and myogenin expression. Myogenin and p21 reactivity were observed in myoblast-like cells, but rarely in multinucleated cells. In ERSs, small undifferentiated myogenic precursor cells were also positive for p21. No difference of PCNA reactivity was observed between HLM-PRSs and LLM-PRSs, although its reactivity was higher in PRSs than in ERSs. The results suggest that myogenin is related to myoblast-like cell differentiation in PRSs and that p21 plays essential roles in myotube formation and myosin expression. In ERSs, p21 may be involved in inhibition of myogenic precursor cell proliferation and differentiation.