Cytoarchitecture of the fetal murine soleus muscle

The organogenesis of the soleus muscle of the 129 ReJ mouse (a mixed muscle, which in the adult contains approximately equal numbers of slow-twitch oxidative and fast-twitch oxidative-glycolytic myofibers) was studied in spaced, serial transverse, and longitudinal sections of muscles of 14-, 16-, and 18-day in utero and 1- and 5-day postnatal mice. A discrete soleus muscle was distinguished by 14 days in utero. It consisted of groups of closely apposed primary myotubes displaying junctional complexes and a pleomorphic population of mononucleated cells. Between 14 and 16 days in utero there was little de novo myotube formation. At 16 days in utero, basal lamina surrounded groups of primary myotubes; and primitive motor endplates were found on these myotubes. At 18 days in utero, the basal-lamina-enclosed groups of primary myotubes were no longer present. At this stage, basal lamina surrounded clusters (consisting of one primary myotube and one or more secondary myotubes) or independent myotubes (single myotubes surrounded by their own basal lamina). Cluster formation and cluster dispersal occurred concurrently, beginning at 18 days in utero and extending until birth. At birth, there was still a substantial population of immature, secondary myotubes that interdigitated with larger, more mature primary myofibers. At this stage, intermuscular axons had begun to myelinate, and postsynaptic specialization of the motor endplates had begun. Cluster dispersal and myonuclear migration was completed during the first 5 days postnatally with the muscle taking on adult characteristics. Beginning at 16 days in utero and extending into the neonatal period, there was evidence of myotube death in the soleus muscle.