title: Embryonic stem cells improve skeletal muscle recovery after extreme atrophy in mice.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  We injected embryonic stem cells into mouse tibialis anterior muscles subjected to botulinum toxin injections as a model for reversible neurogenic atrophy.
  
  
  METHODS
  Muscles were exposed to botulinum toxin for 4 weeks and allowed to recover for up to 6 weeks. At the onset of recovery, a single muscle injection of embryonic stem cells was administered. The myofiber cross-sectional area, single twitch force, peak tetanic force, time-to-peak force, and half-relaxation time were determined.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Although the stem cell injection did not affect the myofiber cross-sectional area gain in recovering muscles, most functional parameters improved significantly compared with those of recovering muscles that did not receive the stem cell injection.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Muscle function recovery was accelerated by embryonic stem cell delivery in this durable neurogenic atrophy model. We conclude that stem cells should be considered a potential therapeutic tool for recovery after extreme skeletal muscle atrophy.
authors.affiliation: Laboratory of Cellular and Molecular Biology of Striated Muscle, Department of Anatomy, Institute of Biomedical Sciences, Avenida Prof. Lineu Prestes 2415, São Paulo CEP 05508-000, Brazil; Laboratory of Applied Nutrition and Metabolism, School of Physical Education and Sport, Department of Biodynamics, University of São Paulo, São Paulo, SP, Brazil.
authors.forename: Guilherme Giannini
authors.initials: GG
authors.lastname: Artioli
authors.forename: João Guilherme
authors.initials: JG
authors.lastname: De Oliveira Silvestre
authors.forename: João Paulo Limongi França
authors.initials: JP
authors.lastname: Guilherme
authors.forename: Igor Luchini
authors.initials: IL
authors.lastname: Baptista
authors.forename: Gracielle Vieira
authors.initials: GV
authors.lastname: Ramos
authors.forename: Willian José
authors.initials: WJ
authors.lastname: Da Silva
authors.forename: Elen Haruka
authors.initials: EH
authors.lastname: Miyabara
authors.forename: Anselmo Sigari
authors.initials: AS
authors.lastname: Moriscot
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001905:Botulinum Toxins / Q000633:toxicity; D053595:Embryonic Stem Cells / Q000637:transplantation*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D051379:Mice; D018482:Muscle, Skeletal / Q000473:pathology / Q000502:physiology*; D009133:Muscular Atrophy / Q000139:chemically induced / Q000473:pathology / Q000628:therapy*; D020127:Recovery of Function / Q000502:physiology*; D033581:Stem Cell Transplantation / Q000379:methods*
chemical_list: D001905:Botulinum Toxins
keywords: atrophy; botulinum toxin; contractile function; embryonic stem cells; skeletal muscle