Several studies have reported that growth and differentiation of cultured myoblasts can be facilitated by applying appropriate mechanical stimulus. However, the effects of mechanical stimulus on the characteristics of muscle fi bers have not yet been fully elucidated. In this study, we gave mechanical stress to C2C12 cells, which were myoblasts derived from mice skeletal muscle. The following myosin heavy chain (MHC) isoforms were investigated in order to clarify muscle characteristics: MHC-2b, 2d and 2a, all of which are fast-twitch fi bers. After inoculating cells on a silicone chamber, the chamber was mechanically stretched, and a LightCycler TM was used to measure the mRNA expression of each MHC isoform at several times. The results showed that, with mechanical stretching, the expression of MHC-2b was initially high. On the other hand, without stretching, the expression of MHC-2d increased over time, but with stretching, it was hardly seen. Furthermore, the expression of MHC-2a was signifi cantly high in the stretching group. These results of this study suggest that, when intermittently stimulated, myoblasts express increased levels of MHC-2a isoform. Therefore, it is indicated that myocytes respond to environmental changes not only to facilitate growth and differentiation, but also to alter muscle function actively at the MHC isoform level.Myosin heavy chain (MHC), which is a muscle contraction protein, is known to be closely related to muscle function (14). Also, MHC consists of several isoforms, and changes in muscle function can be determined by the composition ratios of these isoforms (2, 14). In adult mice, there are four MHC isoforms; MHC-2b, 2d, 2a and 1, and in vivo studies have shown that these isoforms may undergo the following reversible changes: 2b → ← 2d → ← 2a → ← 1 (15). MHC-2b, 2d and 2a are all fast-twitch fi bers, and the contraction speed for MHC-2b is the fastest, followed by 2d and 2a, and MHC-1 is slow-twitch fiber (1).As to the relationship between the composition ratios of MHC isoforms and changes in muscle function, one study investigated the masseter muscle in fetal and newborn mice (19). The results showed that the composition ratios of MHC isoforms changed markedly at 16 days post conception when many oral tissues became ready for delivery and slight jaw movements began. Another study investigated the development process for the mouse masseter muscle after birth, and reported that the composition ratios of MHC isoforms changed markedly during weaning when the masseter muscle began to masticate instead of suckle (6, 17). These two investigations suggested a possibility that changes in muscle function leads to changes in MHC isoform composition. However, it is also possible that changes in MHC isoform are related to