Myogenesis in Xenopus laevis

Abstract

The amphibian embryo provides a convenient experimental system with which to study myogenesis. The earliest steps in the formation of axial and cardiac muscle are accessible for investigation using both embryological and molecular approaches. We review the origins of skeletal and cardiac muscle in the Xenopus embryo, the molecular markers available to detect muscle differentiation, and the use of embryo explants to investigate the regulation of myogenesis.