Role of sphingosylphosphorylcholine on skeletal muscle denervation and regeneration

Present work is aimed at studying the role of sphingosylphosphorylcholine (SPC), a natural bioactive sphingomyelin derivative, on denervation and regeneration of skeletal muscle. SPC is known to participate in growth, proliferation and survival of various cell systems. The experiments were performed in adult rats. SPC was continuously released by a mini-osmotic pumps connected by a catheter to control, denervated or regenerating (after bupivacaine injection) soleus muscles. Supplementation of SPC to adult muscles, produced significant atrophy of fibres and light changes to fibre type composition. In contrast, SPC did not influence denervation atrophy. During regeneration, SPC produced alterations on fibre dimensions and on myosin expression. In conclusion, it appears that SPC exerts distinctive actions depending on definite condition of skeletal muscle