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Review Series: Fetal Programming
Muscle development and obesity: Is there a relationship?
Charlotte A. Maltin
volume 4 | issue 3
july/aug/sepSubscribe to this journal for $59/year
The formation of skeletal muscle from the epithelial somites involves a series of events triggered by temporally and spatially discrete signals resulting in the generation of muscle fibres which vary in their contractile and metabolic nature. The fibre type composition of muscles varies between individuals and it has now been found that there are differences in fibre type proportions between lean and obese animals and humans. Amongst the possible causes of obesity, it has been suggested that inappropriate prenatal environments may "program" the fetus and may lead to increased risks for disease in adult life. The characteristics of muscle are both heritable and plastic, giving the tissue some ability to adapt to signals and stimuli both pre and postnatally. Given that muscle is a site of fatty acid oxidation and carbohydrate metabolism and that its development can be changed by prenatal events, it is interesting to examine the possible relationship between muscle development and the risk of obesity.
Authors
Charlotte A. Maltin
School of Pharmacy and Life Sciences; Robert Gordon University; Aberdeen, UK