I assume you are referring to myotubes? In that case, you might find it useful to read this short chapter:
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK10006/
Here the formation of these myotubes is described briefly.
I suspect that there are multiple reasons.
1. The myofibrillar actin/myosin structure is organised into long fibres to enable generation of force between anchored positions i.e. muscle contraction. Hence the myotubes need to be large and long and relatively thin for packing.
2. To obtain sufficient mRNA in total per cell and mRNA that is in the right place for translation into protein, it is advantageous to be multinucleated.
3. Multinucleation also means that translated proteins can be synthesised close to their functional position. Hence there is less need for transport of proteins over large distances.
4. Mitochondria power the cell and it is important that energy is produced close to where it is used. Hence the mitochondria must be functionally maintained over the length of the myotube. This requires enzyme synthesis to support mitochondrial function position close to the myotubes. In turn it is more efficient to have multiple nuclei synthesising these proteins.
Skeletal muscle fibers are multinucleate because they are sincitios. I mean, every muscle fiber is formed by the fusion of many cells (myoblasts). Including the relevant information the others said before.
Hello
Skeletal muscle cells arise in embryo as uninucleated entities. Later the myoblasts cells fuse together and give rise to multinucleated muscle fiber therefore, have multiple nuclei (each nucleus originating from a single myoblast).
See link here
http://www.pnas.org/content/pnas/56/5/1484.full.pdf
Good Luck
The presence of fetal mononucleated muscle cells which become multinucleated after birth also suggests that the postnatal aerobic environment and movement may drive this process Which results in hypertrophy. The ultimate driver may be an efficient aerobic energy supply system.
I have my own question how to detect nucleus copy number in muscle cells?
Does anyone have an idea?
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