The study of myogenin expression in denervated human skeletal muscles

Skeletal muscle denervation eventually causes atrophy as a result of interrupted nerve conduction and the lack of nutritional factors. Myogenin is a myogenic regulatory factor that plays a key role in myoblast differentiation. Changes in myogenin expression in denervated rat skeletal muscle have been demonstrated, but myogenin expression in denervated human skeletal muscle has not been reported. Human muscle samples were analysed at different time-points post-denervation to evaluate changes in myogenin expression and their relationship with skeletal muscle atrophy. Post-denervation, myogenin mRNA levels peaked at 7 months and were 37.5 times the normal level. Expression levels then declined to 21 and 11 times the normal level at 12 and 26 months post-denervation, respectively. Prolonged denervation resulted in pathological changes characterized by decreased numbers of intact muscle fibres.