Myogenesis is the process by which muscle tissue is formed during development and regeneration. It involves the differentiation of myoblasts (precursor cells) into mature muscle fibres, the contractile units of skeletal muscles. Myogenesis is initiated from myogenic precursor cells known as myoblasts. These cells originate from the mesodermal layer during embryonic development. Myogenesis begins with the formation of somites, which are transient, segmented structures that give rise to various tissues, including skeletal muscles. In humans, the initial formation of somites starts around the third week of embryonic development. Within each somite, a portion called the myotome is dedicated to muscle development. Myotome formation, and the commitment of cells to the myogenic lineage, begins shortly after somite formation. In the early stages of development, primary myogenesis occurs. This phase involves the differentiation of a subset of cells within the myotome into myoblasts, the precursor cells of muscle fibres. Primary myogenesis typically begins during the fourth week of embryonic development in humans. Myoblasts are characterized by the expression of specific transcription factors, including MyoD and Myf5, which are key regulators of muscle differentiation. Myoblasts initially proliferate, forming a pool of undifferentiated cells. They then undergo a critical phase of migration to reach their final destinations within the developing embryo (or the injured muscle tissue). This migration is controlled by a combination of molecular signals, such as the chemokines HGF and FGF, and guidance cues provided by neighbouring tissues and structures such as physical barriers, repulsive signals, or attractive signals that guide myoblasts along specific paths. Once myoblasts have reached their target location, they align themselves and undergo fusion to form multinucleated myotubes. This fusion is facilitated by cell-cell adhesion molecules like N-cadherin and the action of proteins called myomaker and myomerger. Myotubes represent an intermediate stage in myogenesis where they are still undergoing differentiation and maturation. During this phase, myogenin, another key transcription factor, becomes active and plays a pivotal role in promoting muscle-specific gene expression and muscle fibre formation. As myotubes continue to mature, they eventually form functional muscle fibres. These muscle fibres contain multiple nuclei and are surrounded by a plasma membrane called the sarcolemma. The sarcolemma is essential for transmitting action potentials across the muscle fibre, initiating muscle contractions. Skeletal muscles consist of a hierarchical organization of muscle fibres bundled together by connective tissue called perimysium. These bundles, in turn, are grouped into larger structures called fascicles, and the entire muscle is enveloped by a layer of connective tissue called epimysium. Skeletal muscles are controlled by motor neurons from the nervous system. Each muscle fibre is innervated by a single motor neuron at a specialized structure called the neuromuscular junction. The motor neuron releases neurotransmitters, such as acetylcholine, to stimulate muscle contractions. Finally, in adult muscle tissue, a population of quiescent stem cells called satellite cells plays a critical role in muscle regeneration and repair. When muscle injury occurs, satellite cells are activated and give rise to myoblasts, which subsequently undergo myogenesis to repair damaged muscle tissue. We provide a comprehensive product range of research tools for investigating myogenesis, including Desmin antibodies, Myogenin antibodies, alpha smooth muscle Actin antibodies, Desmin ELISA Kits, and Dystrophin ELISA Kits. Explore our full myogenesis product range below and discover more, for less.