
Muscle nuclei are formed through a series of movements and fusions. Muscle nuclei contain DNA combined with histones and other structural proteins to form chromatin. During muscle formation, the new nucleus migrates toward the centre of the myotube, and then myotube nuclei are dispatched along the longest axis. The nuclei then spread out evenly along the cell long axis. Muscle nuclei increase in number during postnatal development, but the relative magnitude of the increase varies from muscle to muscle.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Muscle nuclei increase in number during | Postnatal development |
| Muscle nuclei increase in number during | Muscle growth |
| Muscle nuclei initially form a cluster | Close to the cell centre |
| The cluster then | Splits into two subclusters that migrate towards the opposing cell poles |
| Both clusters then | Break apart and the nuclei spread out evenly along the cell long axis |
| At the end of embryogenesis | The nuclei become positioned along the long axis of the cell at its periphery |
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What You'll Learn

Muscle nuclei increase in number during postnatal development
The process by which nuclei increase in number involves the fusion of myoblasts with myotubes, which results in the formation of a new muscle cell. The new nucleus migrates towards the centre of the myotube, and then gets dispatched along the longest axis of the cell. The nuclei then migrate towards the cell periphery, where they become anchored. Finally, a few nuclei aggregate under the neuromuscular junction.
The movement of nuclei after fusion involves MTs (microtubules) emanating from nuclei. They can bind to the nuclear envelope (NE) through Dynein, which is anchored by Par6. Dynein brings nuclei together by walking towards the minus end of MTs.
The spreading movement of nuclei requires MTs and can be achieved by three different mechanisms. The first mechanism involves anti-parallel MTs, which are bound to the NE through their minus end and are cross-linked by an evolutionary bridge made by the complex Map7-Kinesin-1.
In newly fused Drosophila embryonic muscle cells, the myonuclei initially form a cluster close to the cell centre. The cluster then splits into two subclusters that migrate towards the opposing cell poles. Subsequently, both clusters break apart, and the nuclei spread out evenly along the cell long axis. At the end of embryogenesis, the nuclei become positioned along the long axis of the cell at its periphery, maximising the internuclear distance.
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Nuclear movements during muscle formation
Following spreading, the nuclei migrate towards the cell periphery, where they become anchored in a process called dispersion. Finally, a small number of nuclei aggregate under the neuromuscular junction, known as clustering. This entire process ensures that the nuclei are evenly distributed within the muscle cell, optimising their function.
In newly fused Drosophila embryonic muscle cells, the myonuclei initially form a cluster close to the cell centre. This cluster then splits into two subclusters that migrate towards opposite cell poles. As the nuclei spread within the muscle cell, sarcomeres, the fundamental contractile units of muscle, form into myofibrils within each cell. At the end of embryogenesis, the nuclei become positioned along the long axis of the cell at its periphery, maximising the distance between them.
The number of muscle nuclei can increase during postnatal development, although the magnitude of this increase varies between different muscles. This increase in nuclei was once difficult to explain, as there was no evidence of mitosis in muscle fibre nuclei observed through light microscopy. However, the discovery of satellite cells, which are part of the myogenic cell lineage, provided an explanation for this phenomenon.
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The number of muscle nuclei varies between species
Muscle nuclei are able to withstand longitudinal compression during muscle contraction by means of concertina-like wrinkles in their nuclear membrane. The nuclear movements during muscle formation involve MTs emanating from nuclei. They can bind NE through Dynein anchored by Par6. Dynein, through its ability to walk toward the minus end of MTs, will bring nuclei together.
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Muscle nuclei can withstand longitudinal compression during muscle contraction
Muscle nuclei contain DNA combined with histones and other structural proteins to form chromatin. The number of nuclei may vary between animal species. Muscle nuclei increase in number during postnatal development, but the relative magnitude of the increase varies from muscle to muscle.
Nuclei in newly fused Drosophila embryonic muscle cells undergo a series of movements. After fusion of the myoblasts, the resulting muscle cell disassembles its centrosomes and redistributes γ-tubulin around each nuclear envelope. The myonuclei initially form a cluster close to the cell centre. The cluster then splits into two subclusters that migrate towards the opposing cell poles. Both clusters break apart, and the nuclei spread out evenly along the cell long axis. As the nuclei spread in the muscle cell, sarcomeres, the fundamental contractile units in muscle, form into myofibrils within each cell. At the end of embryogenesis, the nuclei become positioned along the long axis of the cell at its periphery, maximising internuclear distance.
The formation of muscle nuclei can be explained by the movement of myoblasts. Myoblasts are part of the myogenic cell lineage from somitic mesoderm. When myoblasts fuse during muscle growth, nuclei appear in rows. This is because forces cause nuclei to repel each other, resulting in the formation of rows.
Muscle nuclei are able to withstand longitudinal compression during muscle contraction due to concertina-like wrinkles in their nuclear membrane. For many years, histologists regarded wrinkled muscle nuclei as evidence of nuclear division.
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The positioning of muscle nuclei
Muscle nuclei increase in number during postnatal development, but the magnitude of this increase varies from muscle to muscle. The positioning of muscle nuclei is a complex process that involves several steps.
Firstly, after the fusion of a myoblast with a myotube, the new nucleus migrates towards the centre of the myotube, a process known as centration. This is followed by the dispatch of myotube nuclei along the longest axis of the cell, known as spreading. Subsequently, these nuclei migrate towards the cell periphery, where they become anchored in a process called dispersion. Finally, a few nuclei aggregate under the neuromuscular junction, known as clustering.
The spreading movement of nuclei is facilitated by microtubules (MTs) and can be achieved through three different mechanisms. One mechanism involves anti-parallel MTs, which are bound to the nuclear envelope (NE) through their minus end and are cross-linked by an evolutionary bridge formed by the Map7-Kinesin-1 complex. This bridge enables the MTs to bind to the NE and facilitate the movement of nuclei along the cell axis.
In newly fused Drosophila embryonic muscle cells, the myonuclei initially form a cluster close to the cell centre. This cluster then splits into two sub-clusters that migrate towards the opposing cell poles. As the nuclei spread within the muscle cell, sarcomeres, the fundamental contractile units in muscle, form myofibrils within each cell. Eventually, at the end of embryogenesis, the nuclei become positioned along the long axis of the cell at its periphery, maximising the distance between them.
The observation that nuclei appear in rows is thought to be due to nuclei repelling each other, particularly in fibres with low nuclear density. This phenomenon has been studied in mice, where it was found that as fibres grow larger, the number of nuclei increases.
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Frequently asked questions
Muscle nuclei increase in number during postnatal development. The number of muscle nuclei increases as fibres get larger as a result of growth or hypertrophy.
Muscle nuclei are able to withstand longitudinal compression during muscle contraction by means of concertina-like wrinkles in their nuclear membrane.
After fusion of a myoblast with a myotube, the new nucleus migrates toward the centre of the myotube.
The cluster splits into two subclusters that then migrate towards the opposing cell poles.
The myoblasts fuse during muscle growth, causing nuclei to appear in rows.















