PUBLICATION

Development of the zebrafish myoseptum with emphasis on the myotendinous junction

Authors
Charvet, B., Malbouyres, M., Pagnon-Minot, A., Ruggiero, F., and Le Guellec, D.
ID
ZDB-PUB-111122-17
Date
2011
Source
Cell and tissue research   346(3): 439-49 (Journal)
Registered Authors
Le Guellec, Dominique
Keywords
extracellular matrix, myosepta, myotendinous junction, collagen, zebrafish, danio rerio (teleostei)
MeSH Terms
  • Animals
  • Intercellular Junctions/physiology*
  • Intercellular Junctions/ultrastructure
  • Muscle, Skeletal/growth & development*
  • Muscle, Skeletal/ultrastructure
  • Zebrafish/growth & development*
PubMed
22086205 Full text @ Cell Tissue Res.
Abstract
Zebrafish myosepta connect two adjacent muscle cells and transmit muscular forces to axial structures during swimming via the myotendinous junction (MTJ). The MTJ establishes transmembrane linkages system consisting of extracellular matrix molecules (ECM) surrounding the basement membrane, cytoskeletal elements anchored to sarcolema, and all intermediate proteins that link ECM to actin filaments. Using a series of zebrafish specimens aged between 24 h post-fertilization and 2 years old, the present paper describes at the transmission electron microscope level the development of extracellular and intracellular elements of the MTJ. The transverse myoseptum development starts during the segmentation period by deposition of sparse and loosely organized collagen fibrils. During the hatching period, a link between actin filaments and sarcolemma is established. The basal lamina underlining sarcolemma is well differentiated. Later, collagen fibrils display an orthogonal orientation and fibroblast-like cells invade the myoseptal stroma. A dense network of collagen fibrils is progressively formed that both anchor myoseptal fibroblasts and sarcolemmal basement membrane. The differentiation of a functional MTJ is achieved when sarcolemma interacts with both cytoskeletal filaments and extracellular components. This solid structural link between contractile apparatus and ECM leads to sarcolemma deformations resulting in the formation of regular invaginations, and allows force transmission during muscle contraction. This paper presents the first ultrastructural atlas of the zebrafish MTJ development, which represents an useful tool to analyse the mechanisms of the myotendinous system formation and their disruption in muscle disorders.
Genes / Markers
Figures
Expression
Phenotype
Mutations / Transgenics
Human Disease / Model
Sequence Targeting Reagents
Fish
Antibodies
Orthology
Engineered Foreign Genes
Mapping