Mouse muscle regeneration: an in vivo 2D 1H magnetic resonance spectroscopy (MRS) study.

Muscle degeneration and regeneration were studied by 2D 1H magnetic resonance spectroscopy (MRS) and histological examination, in an experimental model of muscle injury using a myotoxic snake venom, notexin. The injured muscles produced a very specific MRS signal, corresponding to a tri-unsaturated fatty acid (linolenic acid-like) signal, from day 2 to day 9 after injury. The combination of MRS with histology showed that this signal was associated with a mechanism occurring during myoblast fusion to form myotubes. 2D 1H MRS is thus a useful non-invasive tool for detecting muscle regeneration in vivo.