Scanning electron microscopy of prenatal muscle development in the mouse

Scanning electron microscopy was used to study prenatal muscle development in mouse fetuses ranging from 12 days to 18 days gestation. Some transmission electron micrographs were also used for comparison. At 12 days no myofibres were evident although at 13 days long fibres surrounded by many mononucleated cells could be seen. At 14 days bundles of primary myofibres were observed with new myofibres forming in crevices between adjacent fibres. At 16 days the primary myofibres had separated but smaller secondary myofibres could be seen forming along their surfaces. The myofibres were very compact at 18 days and often appeared fused but this was due to the basal lamina ensheathing clusters of primary myofibres with their secondaries. The scanning electron micrographs appeared to illustrate the theories of muscle development which have arisen out of the various studies employing sectioning techniques.