A study on mice groups conducted by researchers at the Garvan Institute of Medical Research in Sydney, Australia, has probably shown a way to treat muscle wasting conditions or even metabolic disorders, as per a recent report.

Two groups of mice were enrolled, with one muscular group having disturbance in the Grb10 gene, while the other group with normally functioning Grb10 gene and normal muscles. The study, published this week in the Federation of American Societies for Experimental Biology or FASEB Journal, then found the way the gene or the `Hulk' protein as dubbed by researchers worked.

Properties of muscles were analyzed in adult mice as well as the newborns, which revealed that loss in the gene was causing alterations in them during prenatal development only. But since the process of muscle regeneration was similar to that of muscle formation, it was possible to alter the growth of muscles.

One need not go to gym to strengthen or build his muscles, but rather nutritious diet with enough sleep and heavy lifts would help achieve the same. Also, study of growth of muscle fibres would help make patients of muscle disease get better.

"By identifying a novel mechanism regulating muscle development, our work has revealed potential new strategies to increase muscle mass", said Dr. Lowenna Holt.