PREDNISOLONE ENHANCES MYOGENESIS AND DYSTROPHIN-RELATED PROTEIN IN SKELETAL-MUSCLE CELL-CULTURES FROM MDX MOUSE

The differentiation of skeletal muscle cells from mdx mice which lack dystrophin expression was examined after glucocorticoid treatment, nam ely alpha-methylprednisolone (PDN). Primary skeletal muscle cell cultu res were established from newborn mdx, congenic C57BL/10, and allogeni c BALB/C mice. We show that PDN promotes the myogenesis of both mdx- a nd control mice-derived cultures as determined by 1) the number of myo tubes, 2) acetylcholine receptors, and 3) dystrophin and dystrophin-re lated protein levels. These results support the hypothesis that PDN co uld enhance the myogenesis of satellite cells and increase dystrophin- related protein expression in DMD treated patients.