Is the myonuclear domain ceiling hypothesis dead?
Level 5 - mechanism / opinion, no new human data
Narrative review synthesizing theoretical models and literature without systematic search methodology
PubMed 34544215 · doi:10.11622/smedj.2021103
What was done
This review synthesized published literature concerning the myonuclear domain (MND) ceiling hypothesis across various settings of muscle hypertrophy. It evaluated potential factors contributing to discrepancies in the literature and examined the physiological and clinical relevance of MND limits in muscle adaptation during physiological and pathological conditions.
What was found
The abstract reports no numerical data, study counts, or effect sizes. It reports that evidence across existing studies remains conflicting regarding the existence of an MND ceiling during muscle hypertrophy.
Why it matters
Clarifying whether satellite cell-mediated myonuclear addition is obligatory beyond a specific fiber size threshold informs foundational models of muscle hypertrophy and regenerative adaptation.
Limits
As a narrative review, it lacks a systematic search protocol, risk-of-bias assessment, or quantitative meta-analysis. No primary empirical data or specific threshold numbers are reported in the abstract.
Cited by
- supports The myonuclear domain theory posits that the maximum size of a muscle fiber is constrained by the number of nuclei present within it.