Temporal expression of growth factor genes of primary porcine satellite cells during myogenesis

RNA Sequencing Reveals the Inhibitory Effect of High Levels of Arachidonic Acid and Linoleic Acid on C2C12 Differentiation and Myogenic Biomarkers

Over the past three decades, studies have shown that consuming polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFAs) can enhance animal and human health and welfare through biological, biochemical, pathological, and pharmacological impacts. Furthermore, omega-6 plays key roles in the cardiopulmonary system, including promoting airway relaxation and inhibiting atherosclerosis and hypertension. However, findings from investigations of the effects of omega-6 fatty acids on molecular and cellular activity and discussions on their influence on biomarkers are still unclear. Therefore, the present study aimed to evaluate omega-6 fatty acids, the arachidonic acid (AA), and linoleic acid (LA) effects on C2C12 proliferation, myogenesis morphology, and relative myogenic biomarker expression through the Wnt pathway. C2C12 cells were cultured with and without 25, 50, 100, and 150 µM of LA and AA and then subjected to CCK8, Giemsa staining, RT qPCR, Western blotting, and RNA Sequencing. The CCK8 Assay results showed that 25, 50, 100, and 150 µM LA significantly decreased the viability after 72 h for 25, 50, 100, and 150 µM concentrations. Also, AA supplementation decreased cell viability after 24 h for 150 µM, 48 h for 150 µM, and 72 h for 50, 100, and 150 µM concentrations. Moreover, the LA and AA inhibitory effects noticed through Gimesa staining were morphological changes during myoblast differentiation. Both LA and AA showed inhibiting IGF1, Cola1, Col6a2, Col6a1, Itga10, Itga11, SFRP2, DAAM2, and NKD2 effects; however, the depressing effect was higher for AA compared to LA. The previous results were confirmed through Western blotting, which showed that 50 µM LA and AA significantly reduced DAAM2 and SFRP2 protein levels compared to the control. Regarding RNA sequencing results, LA and AA increased the number of differentially expressed (DE) Mt-rRNA and snoRNA; however, the numbers of lncRNA detected decreased compared to the control. Our findings demonstrate that high and moderate LA and AA concentrations reduce primary myoblast proliferation and differentiation. Also, they highlight novel biomarkers and regulatory factors to improve our understanding of how the nutrition of fatty acids can control and modulate the myogenesis and differentiation process through different biomarker families.

The importance of optimal body condition to maximise reproductive health and perinatal outcomes in pigs

Overnutrition or undernutrition during all or part of the reproductive cycle predisposes sows to metabolic consequences and poor reproductive health which contributes to a decrease in sow longevity and an increase in perinatal mortality. This represents not only an economic problem for the pig industry but also results in poor animal welfare. To maximise profitability and increase sustainability in pig production, it is pivotal to provide researchers and practitioners with synthesised information about the repercussions of maternal obesity or malnutrition on reproductive health and perinatal outcomes, and to pinpoint currently available nutritional managements to keep sows' body condition in an optimal range. Thus, the present review summarises recent work on the consequences of maternal malnutrition and highlights new findings.

Identification and functional characterization of Pomstna in Japanese flounder (Paralichthys olivaceus)

Myostatin (MSTN) as a negative regulator of muscle growth has been identified in Japanese flounder. Yet, most fish experienced the teleost specific genome duplication and possess at least two mstn genes. In current study, the second mstn gene named Pomstna is identified in Japanese flounder. Pomstna is clustered with other mstn2 of teleosts and owned highly conserved TGF-beta domain. In addition to muscle, Pomstna also highly expressed in brain and spleen. Using the primarily cultured muscle cells of Japanese flounder, we found that Pomstna could inhibit the proliferation and differentiation of muscle cells in vitro. As a ligand of TGF-beta signaling pathway, Pomstnb could regulate the expression of p21 and myod by activating the TGF-beta signaling pathway. Different from the function of Pomstnb, Pomstna could not activate the TGF-beta signaling pathway in vitro. During the differentiation of PoM cells, the expression of Pomstnb decreased significantly but the expression of Pomstna showed no change. Our study suggests that Pomstna could negatively regulate the growth and differentiation of muscle like Pomstnb yet through a different regulatory mechanism than Pomstnb. The present study suggests that muscle proliferation and differentiation were regulated by mstn not only through the TGF-beta signaling pathway but also other unknown mechanisms.

Key Genes Regulating Skeletal Muscle Development and Growth in Farm Animals

Simple Summary

Skeletal muscle mass is an important economic trait, and muscle development and growth is a crucial factor to supply enough meat for human consumption. Thus, understanding (candidate) genes regulating skeletal muscle development is crucial for understanding molecular genetic regulation of muscle growth and can be benefit the meat industry toward the goal of increasing meat yields. During the past years, significant progress has been made for understanding these mechanisms, and thus, we decided to write a comprehensive review covering regulators and (candidate) genes crucial for muscle development and growth in farm animals. Detection of these genes and factors increases our understanding of muscle growth and development and is a great help for breeders to satisfy demands for meat production on a global scale.

Abstract

Farm-animal species play crucial roles in satisfying demands for meat on a global scale, and they are genetically being developed to enhance the efficiency of meat production. In particular, one of the important breeders’ aims is to increase skeletal muscle growth in farm animals. The enhancement of muscle development and growth is crucial to meet consumers’ demands regarding meat quality. Fetal skeletal muscle development involves myogenesis (with myoblast proliferation, differentiation, and fusion), fibrogenesis, and adipogenesis. Typically, myogenesis is regulated by a convoluted network of intrinsic and extrinsic factors monitored by myogenic regulatory factor genes in two or three phases, as well as genes that code for kinases. Marker-assisted selection relies on candidate genes related positively or negatively to muscle development and can be a strong supplement to classical selection strategies in farm animals. This comprehensive review covers important (candidate) genes that regulate muscle development and growth in farm animals (cattle, sheep, chicken, and pig). The identification of these genes is an important step toward the goal of increasing meat yields and improves meat quality.

Effects of trypsinization and of a combined trypsin, collagenase, and DNase digestion on liberation and in vitro function of satellite cells isolated from juvenile porcine muscles

Muscle stem cells, termed satellite cells (SC), and SC-derived myogenic progenitor cells (MPC) are involved in postnatal muscle growth, regeneration, and muscle adaptability. They can be released from their natural environment by mechanical disruption and tissue digestion. The literature contains several isolation protocols for porcine SC/MPC including various digestion procedures, but comparative studies are missing. In this report, classic trypsinization and a more complex trypsin, collagenase, and DNase (TCD) digestion were performed with skeletal muscle tissue from 4- to 5-d-old piglets. The two digestion procedures were compared regarding cell yield, viability, myogenic purity, and in vitro cell function. The TCD digestion tended to result in higher cell yields than digestion with solely trypsin (statistical trend p = 0.096), whereas cell size and viability did not differ. Isolated myogenic cells from both digestion procedures showed comparable proliferation rates, expressed the myogenic marker Desmin, and initiated myogenic differentiation in vitro at similar levels. Thus, TCD digestion tended to liberate slightly more cells without changes in the tested in vitro properties of the isolated cells. Both procedures are adequate for the isolation of SC/MPC from juvenile porcine muscles but the developmental state of the animal should always be considered.

Temporal correlation between differentiation factor expression and microRNAs in Holstein bovine skeletal muscle

Satellite cells are adult stem cells located between the basal lamina and sarcolemma of muscle fibers. Under physiological conditions, satellite cells are quiescent, but they maintain a strong proliferative potential and propensity to differentiate, which underlies their critical role in muscle preservation and growth. MicroRNAs (miRNAs) play essential roles during animal development as well as in stem cell self-renewal and differentiation regulation. MiRNA-1, miRNA-133a and miRNA-206 are closely related muscle-specific miRNAs, and are thus defined myomiRNAs. MyomiRNAs are integrated into myogenic regulatory networks. Their expression is under the transcriptional and post-transcriptional control of myogenic factors and, in turn, they exhibit widespread control of muscle gene expression. Very little information is available about the regulation and behavior of satellite cells in large farm animals, in particular during satellite cell differentiation. Here, we study bovine satellite cells (BoSCs) undergoing a differentiation process and report the expression pattern of selected genes and miRNAs involved. Muscle samples of longissimus thoracis from Holstein adult male animals were selected for the collection of satellite cells. All satellite cell preparations demonstrated myotube differentiation. To characterize the dynamics of several transcription factors expressed in BoSCs, we performed real-time PCR on complementary DNA generated from the total RNA extracted from BoSCs cultivated in growth medium (GM) or in differentiation medium (DM) for 4 days. In the GM condition, BoSCs expressed the satellite cell lineage markers as well as transcripts for the myogenic regulatory factors. At the time of isolation from muscle, PAX7 was expressed in nearly 100% of BoSCs; however, its messenger RNA (mRNA) levels dramatically decreased between 3 and 6 days post isolation (P<0.01). MyoD mRNA levels increased during the 1st day of cultivation in DM (day 7; P<0.02), showing a gradual activation of the myogenic gene program. During the subsequent 4 days of culture in DM, several tested genes, including MRF4, MYOG, MEF2C, TMEM8C, DES and MYH1, showed increased expression (P<0.05), and these levels remained high throughout the culture period investigated. Meanwhile, the expression of genes involved in the differentiation process also miRNA-1, miRNA-133a and miRNA-206 were strongly up-regulated on the 1st day in DM (day 7; P<0.05). Analysis revealed highly significant correlations between myomiRNAs expression and MEF2C, MRF4, TMEM8C, DES and MYH1 gene expression (P<0.001). Knowledge about the transcriptional changes correlating with the growth and differentiation of skeletal muscle fibers could be helpful for developing strategies to improve production performance in livestock.

Isolation, Culture and Identification of Porcine Skeletal Muscle Satellite Cells

The objective of this study was to establish the optimum protocol for the isolation and culture of porcine muscle satellite cells. Mononuclear muscle satellite cells are a kind of adult stem cell, which is located between the basal lamina and sarcolemma of muscle fibers and is the primary source of myogenic precursor cells in postnatal muscle. Muscle satellite cells are a useful model to investigate the mechanisms of muscle growth and development. Although the isolation and culture protocols of muscle satellite cells in some species (e.g. mouse) have been established successfully, the culture system for porcine muscle satellite cells is very limited. In this study, we optimized the isolation procedure of porcine muscle satellite cells and elaborated the isolation and culture process in detail. Furthermore, we characterized the porcine muscle satellite cells using the immunofluorecence. Our study provides a reference for the isolation of porcine muscle satellite cells and will be useful for studying the molecular mechanisms in these cells.

Polyacetylenes from carrots (Daucus carota) improve glucose uptake in vitro in adipocytes and myotubes

Falcarinol and falcarindiol isolated from a carrot extract stimulate glucose uptake in adipocytes and myotubes, and may represent scaffolds for novel partial PPARγ agonists.

Screening for bioactive metabolites in plant extracts modulating glucose uptake and fat accumulation

Dichloromethane and methanol extracts of seven different food and medicinal plants were tested in a screening platform for identification of extracts with potential bioactivity related to insulin-dependent glucose uptake and fat accumulation. The screening platform included a series of in vitro bioassays, peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor (PPAR) γ-mediated transactivation, adipocyte differentiation of 3T3-L1 cell cultures, and glucose uptake in both 3T3-L1 adipocytes and primary porcine myotubes, as well as one in vivo bioassay, fat accumulation in the nematode Caenorhabditis elegans. We found that dichloromethane extracts of aerial parts of golden root (Rhodiola rosea) and common elder (Sambucus nigra) as well as the dichloromethane extracts of thyme (Thymus vulgaris) and carrot (Daucus carota) were able to stimulate insulin-dependent glucose uptake in both adipocytes and myotubes while weekly activating PPARγ without promoting adipocyte differentiation. In addition, these extracts were able to decrease fat accumulation in C. elegans. Methanol extracts of summer savory (Satureja hortensis), common elder, and broccoli (Brassica oleracea) enhanced glucose uptake in myotubes but were not able to activate PPARγ, indicating a PPARγ-independent effect on glucose uptake.

Bioactive components from flowers of Sambucus nigra L. increase glucose uptake in primary porcine myotube cultures and reduce fat accumulation in Caenorhabditis elegans

Obesity and insulin resistance in skeletal muscles are major features of type 2 diabetes. In the present study, we examined the potential of Sambucus nigra flower (elderflowers) extracts to stimulate glucose uptake (GU) in primary porcine myotubes and reduce fat accumulation (FAc) in Caenorhabditis elegans. Bioassay guided chromatographic fractionations of extracts and fractions resulted in the identification of naringenin and 5-O- caffeoylquinic acid exhibiting a significant increase in GU. In addition, phenolic compounds related to those found in elderflowers were also tested, and among these, kaempferol, ferulic acid, p-coumaric acid, and caffeic acid increased GU significantly. FAc was significantly reduced in C. elegans, when treated with elderflower extracts, their fractions and the metabolites naringenin, quercetin-3-O-rutinoside, quercetin-3-O-glucoside, quercetin-3-O-5″-acetylglycoside, kaempferol-3-O-rutinoside, isorhamnetin-3-O-rutinoside, and isorhamnetin-3-O-glucoside and the related phenolic compounds kaempferol and ferulic acid. The study indicates that elderflower extracts contain bioactive compounds capable of modulating glucose and lipid metabolism, suitable for nutraceutical and pharmaceutical applications.

Phytanic acid stimulates glucose uptake in a model of skeletal muscles, the primary porcine myotubes

BACKGROUND

Phytanic acid (PA) is a chlorophyll metabolite with potentials in regulating glucose metabolism, as it is a natural ligand of the peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor (PPAR) that is known to regulate hepatic glucose homeostasis. This study aimed to establish primary porcine myotubes as a model for measuring glucose uptake and glycogen synthesis, and to examine the impact of physiological amounts of PA on glucose uptake and glycogen synthesis either alone or in combination with insulin.

METHODS

Porcine satellite cells were cultured into differentiated myotubes and tritiated 2-deoxyglucose (2-DOG) was used to measure glucose uptake, in relation to PA and 2-DOG exposure times and also in relation to PA and insulin concentrations. The MIXED procedure model of SAS was used for statistical analysis of data.

RESULTS

PA increased glucose uptake by approximately 35%, and the presence of insulin further increased the uptake, but this further increase in uptake was non- additive and less pronounced at high insulin concentrations. There was no effect of PA alone on glycogen synthesis, while the insulin stimulation of glycogen was increased by 20% in the presence of PA. PA neither stimulated glucose uptake nor glycogen synthesis in insulin-resistant myotubes generated by excess glucose exposure.

CONCLUSIONS

Primary porcine myotubes were established as a model of skeletal muscles for measuring glucose uptake and glycogen synthesis, and we showed that PA can play a role in stimulating glucose uptake at no or inadequate insulin concentrations.

In vitro characterization of proliferation and differentiation of pig satellite cells

Skeletal muscle contains various muscle fiber types exhibiting different contractile properties based on the myosin heavy chain (MyHC) isoform profile. Muscle fiber type composition is highly variable and influences growth performance and meat quality, but underlying mechanisms regulating fiber type composition remain poorly understood. The aim of the present work was to develop a model based on muscle satellite cell culture to further investigate the regulation of adult MyHC isoforms expression in pig skeletal muscle. Satellite cells were harvested from the mostly fast-twitch glycolytic longissimus (LM) and predominantly slow-twitch oxidative rhomboideus (RM) muscles of 6-week-old piglets. Satellite cells were allowed to proliferate up to 80% confluence, reached after 7 day of proliferation (D7), and then induced to differentiate. Kinetics of proliferation and differentiation were similar between muscles and more than 95% of the cells were myogenic (desmin positive) at D7 with a fusion index reaching 65 ± 9% after 4 day of differentiation. One-dimensional SDS polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis revealed that satellite cells from both muscles only expressed the embryonic and fetal MyHC isoforms in culture, without any of the adult MyHC isoforms that were expressed in vivo. Interestingly, triiodothyronine (T3) induced de novo expression of adult fast and α-cardiac MyHC in vitro making our culture system a valuable tool to study de novo expression of adult MyHC isoforms and its regulation by intrinsic and/or extrinsic factors.

Myostatin inhibits proliferation but not differentiation of trout myoblasts

The muscle growth in mammals is regulated by several growth factors including myostatin (MSTN), a member of the transforming growth factor-beta (TGF-beta) superfamily. To date, it is unknown in fish whether MSTN could have any effect on proliferation or differentiation of myogenic cells. Using culture of trout satellite cells, we showed that mstn1a and mstn1b mRNA are expressed in myoblasts and that their expression decreased in differentiating myoblasts. We also demonstrated that a treatment with huMSTN decreased the proliferation of IGF1-stimulated myoblasts in a dose-dependent manner. By contrast, treatment of myoblasts with 100 nM of huMSTN for three days, did not affect the percentage of positive cells for myogenin neither the percentage of nuclei in myosin positive cells. Moreover, our results clearly indicated that huMSTN treatment had no effect on MyoD and myogenin protein levels, which suggests that huMSTN did not strongly affect MyoD activity. In conclusion, we showed that huMSTN inhibited proliferation but not differentiation of trout myoblasts, probably resulting from a lack of huMSTN effect on MyoD activity. Altogether, these results show high interspecies differences in the function of MSTN.

Effects of limited and excess protein intakes of pregnant gilts on carcass quality and cellular properties of skeletal muscle and subcutaneous adipose tissue in fattening pigs

The aim of this study was to investigate whether dietary protein intake of gilts during gestation below (50%) or above (250%) recommendations affects body composition, carcass and meat quality, and properties of skeletal muscle and subcutaneous adipose tissue (SCAT) in offspring at d 83 and 188 of age. German Landrace gilts were fed isoenergetic gestation diets (~13.7 MJ of ME/kg) containing a low (LP, 6.5%; n = 18), an adequate (AP, 12.1%; n = 20), or a high (HP, 30%; n = 16) protein content from mating until farrowing. Within 48 h of birth, offspring were cross-fostered to sows fed a standard diet. On d 83 of age, no effects of the LP diet on BW and body composition were detected, whereas HP pigs showed a slight growth delay (P = 0.06) associated with increased relative weights of small intestine (P < 0.01) and brain (P = 0.08), and reduced relative thymus weight (P < 0.01). On d 188 of age, BW was not different among the dietary groups. However, the carcass of LP pigs contained less (P = 0.01) lean and more (P = 0.07) fat compared with AP and HP pigs, which was only pronounced in pigs originating from large litters (P < 0.05). Like skeletal muscles (P = 0.06), the heart muscle weighed less (P = 0.02) in LP than AP pigs. Compared with AP pigs, LP pigs exhibited a fewer (P = 0.09) total number of myofibers in semitendinosus muscle plus LM both at d 83 and 188 of age, whereas total muscular DNA was less (P = 0.02) at d 188 only. The mRNA abundance of IGF2 measured on d 188 was reduced in SCAT (P = 0.03) and LM (P = 0.07) of LP compared with AP pigs. No changes in muscular fiber type frequency, capillary density, or creatine kinase activity, as well as SCAT adipocyte size and number, were observed at either stages of age. Meat quality characteristics remained unchanged at d 83, whereas Warner-Bratzler shear force value in LM was decreased (P = 0.03) in LP compared with AP pigs on d 188 of age. The results suggest that the maternal LP diet impairs prenatal myofiber formation, reduces the potential of postnatal lean growth related to reduced IGF2 mRNA expression and myonuclear accumulation, and consequently changes carcass quality toward reduced lean proportion and improved tenderness at market weight. In contrast, except for a slight transient growth delay, excess dietary protein during gestation seems to have little effect on the fetal programming of postnatal muscle and adipose tissue phenotype of the progeny.

Growth and differentiation potentials in confluent state of culture of human skeletal muscle myoblasts

The transitional behaviors of myoblasts toward differentiation were investigated in the cultures at the low and high seeding densities (respectively, X(0)=1.0x10(3) and 2.0x10(5) cells/cm(2)). In the culture at the low seeding density, an increase in confluence degree accompanied a decrease in growth potential (R(p)), being R(p)=0.85 and 0.11 at t=48 and 672 h, respectively. Myoblasts seeded at the high density resulted in the immediate cessation of growth with keeping the low range of R(p)=0.02-0.09 throughout the culture. The reduction of R(p) led to the generation of three subpopulations of cells in proliferative, quiescent and differentiated states. Close cell contacts in the confluent state of high seeding culture induced cell quiescence to a higher extent with suppressing differentiation.

Developmental changes and the impact of isoflavones on mRNA expression of IGF-I receptor, EGF receptor and related growth factors in porcine skeletal muscle cell cultures

OBJECTIVE

Soy that is widely used in human nutrition and in livestock production is a rich source of isoflavones. In addition to the estrogenic or antiestrogenic effects, isoflavones are suggested to affect cell growth via inhibition of protein tyrosine kinases (e.g. growth factor receptors). Therefore, the present in vitro-study was undertaken to determine, whether genistein and daidzein affect the mRNA expression of growth factor receptors (IGF-I receptor and EGF receptor) and their related growth factors in porcine skeletal muscle cell cultures.

DESIGN

First, we investigated the basal mRNA expression of IGF-I, IGF-II, EGF, IGF-I receptor, and EGF receptor in proliferating and differentiating porcine skeletal muscle cell cultures using real-time PCR. Secondly, we measured the changes in the mRNA expression in these cell cultures treated with 0 (control), 1, 10, 100 microM genistein or daidzein over 26 h in serum-free medium (n=3).

RESULTS

The mRNA expression of IGF-I was slightly decreased, whereas transcript concentrations of IGF-II and EGF were increased during differentiation compared with the proliferating stage of porcine muscle cell cultures. IGF-I receptor transcripts tended to be increased, whereas EGF receptor mRNA expression remained unchanged from proliferation to differentiation. Genistein and daidzein at 1 microM and 10 microM showed no effects on the mRNA expression of these genes, neither in proliferating nor in differentiating cells. However, high-concentrated isoflavones (100 microM) decreased the mRNA expression of IGF-I receptor and of the growth factors examined.

CONCLUSIONS

The present study confirms the role of the IGF and EGF system in proliferation and differentiation of skeletal muscle cell culture especially under serum-free culture conditions. Furthermore, the results of this in vitro-study suggest that there is no effect of isoflavones at concentrations resulting from dietary consumption (1 and 10 microM) on IGF- and EGF-associated gene expression in porcine skeletal muscle tissue. Genistein and daidzein at high concentration (100 microM) reduced the mRNA expression of the IGF-I receptor and the growth factors examined, and therefore, may modify their autocrine and paracrine actions in skeletal muscle tissue.

The polyacetylenes falcarinol and falcarindiol affect stress responses in myotube cultures in a biphasic manner

The effects of the bioactive polyacetylenes, falcarinol and falcarindiol, present in carrots, celery, celeriac and other umbelliferous vegetables, on the stress responses in primary myotube cultures, were studied. Biphasic responses on cellular stress responses in myotube cultures were investigated by exposing them to various concentrations of falcarinol and falcarindiol for 24 h before testing effects of 100 microM H(2)O(2) on the intracellular formation of reactive oxygen species (ROS), transcription of the antioxidative enzyme cytosolic glutathione peroxidase (cGPx), and the heat shock proteins (HSP) HSP70 and HO1. At low concentrations (1.6 to 25 microM) polyacetylenes caused a slightly accelerated intra-cellular ROS formation, increased cGPx transcription and decreased HSP70 and HO1 transcription. The increased cGPx transcription may be interpreted as an adaptive response to the increased ROS formation and may have caused a reduced demand for the protective functions of the HSPs. ROS formation, however, was substantially decreased after pre-incubation with both polyacetylenes at 50 and 100 microM, the cGPx transcription was reduced and the HSP70 and HO1 transcription increased, indicating a need for the protective and repairing functions of the HSPs. In conclusion, pre-incubation with low concentrations of both polyacetylenes prior to H(2)O(2) exposure induced a cytoprotective effect whereas higher concentrations had adverse effects.

Establishment and conditions for growth and differentiation of a myoblast cell line derived from the semimembranosus muscle of newborn piglets

To establish an adequate model to study the proliferation and differentiation of porcine skeletal muscle in response to bioactive compounds, a pool of satellite cells was derived from the semimembranosus muscle (SM) of newborn piglets using a Percoll gradient centrifugation. The final yield amounted to 4.1 x 10(6) cells/g muscle tissue. The percentage of muscle satellite cells has been determined by immunostaining for desmin and subsequent fluorescence analysis by flow cytometry, which revealed 95% of desmin-positive cells. For proliferation studies, satellite cell born myoblasts were seeded in gelatin-coated 96-well microplates at about 5 x 10(3) cells per well. Cells were grown for 1 day in MEMalpha plus 10% fetal bovine serum (FBS) and 10% horse serum (HS), followed by 2 d cultivation in serum-free growth medium. For differentiation studies, myoblasts were cultured in matrigel-coated 24-well plates for 4 d with growth medium containing 10% FBS and 10% HS. At 80% confluence, cells were grown for 24 h in medium plus 10% FBS and 1 microM insulin to initiate differentiation. Subsequently, the cells were cultured in serum-free differentiation medium (SFDM) for 3 d to form myotubes. Cultures reached a maximum fusion rate of approximately 20% after 96 h. By establishing this culture system, we provide an advanced and appropriate in vitro model to study porcine skeletal muscle cell growth and differentiation including the responses to various bioactive compounds.

Temporal changes in glycogenolytic enzyme mRNAs during myogenesis of primary porcine satellite cells

The objective was to study the regulation of glycogenolytic enzyme mRNAs in porcine satellite cells during proliferation and differentiation. Beyond 80% confluence, cells were grown in absence or presence of 1μM insulin. The observed increases in abundance of mRNA for glycogenin, glycogen synthase, phosphorylase kinase, phosphorylase and glycogen debranching enzyme, and no alterations of the transporter molecule GLUT4, clearly indicate that glycogenolytic enzymes of potential importance to meat quality development are regulated at the gene level during myogenesis, and are heavily involved in muscle cell and muscle fibre development. The genes, however, are not influenced by insulin, and the lack of response to insulin of expression of gene-encoding enzymes involved in the formation and degradation of glycogen may question the applicability of porcine cell culture systems, like the one applied, as a model to study the regulation and regulatory mechanism of energy metabolism in muscles.