Abstract: The present invention provides splice variants of myostatin that promote muscle growth, and include polynucleotides and polypeptide sequences, constructs comprising the sequences and compositions for regulating muscle growth and treating diseases associated with muscle tissue. The splice variants include the consensus sequence X1 I F L E X2 X3 X4 Q X5 C S I L X6 X7 X8 X9 X10 wherein X1 is I or L, X2 is V or L, X3 is Y, C, G or S, X4 is I or F, X5 is F or L, X6 is G or E, X7 is E or V, X8 is A or T, X9 is A or V and X10 is absent, F or L. The present invention also provides for the use of the present sequences in identifying animals with altered muscle mass, and for use in selective breeding programs to produce animals with altered muscle mass.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a method of treating sarcopenia in a human or animal patient by inhibiting the activity of myostatin using one or more myostatin antagonists.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a method of improving wound healing in a human or animal patient by inhibiting the activity of myostatin (GDF-8) using one or more myostatin antagonists. The present invention also relates to a method of treating fibrotic diseases or disorders comprising administering a myostatin antagonist.

Abstract: The present invention provides splice variants of myostatin that promote muscle growth, and include polynucleotides and polypeptide sequences, constructs comprising the sequences and compositions for regulating muscle growth and treating diseases associated with muscle tissue. The splice variants include the consensus sequence X1 I F L E X2 X3 X4 Q X5 C S I L X6 X7 X8 X9 X10 wherein X1 is I or L, X2 is V or L, X3 is Y, C, G or S, X4 is I or F, X5 is F or L, X6 is G or E, X7 is E or V, X8 is A or T, X9 is A or V and X10 is absent, F or L. The present invention also provides for the use of the present sequences in identifying animals with altered muscle mass, and for use in selective breeding programs to produce animals with altered muscle mass.

Abstract: The present invention relates to an isolated mimetic of functional myostatin comprising part of the amino acid sequence of functional myostatin, such that the mimetic is capable of inhibiting muscle growth.

Abstract: A muscle growth regulating factor includes polynucleotide and polypeptide sequences, promoter sequences, constructs comprising the sequences, and compositions for regulating muscle growth and treating diseases associated with muscle growth. The present sequences can be used in identifying animals with altered muscle mass, and for selective breeding programs to produce animals with altered muscle mass.