Isolation of satellite cells from equine skeletal muscle

Abstract

Satellite cells from equine soleus muscles were cultured and the expression of desmin, one of the markers of skeletal muscle cells, was examined. The presence of desmin was detected in some populations of mononucleated cells on day 3 of culture, indicating that equine satellite cells were successfully isolated. On day 5, desmin was localized at the edges of the elongated myotubes but when the equine myotubes matured, no particular localization of desmin expressed diffusely within the cells was seen. Although the significance of such changes in the localization of desmin within the differentiating equine skeletal muscle cells is unknown, these results suggested that desmin may be involved in the growth and development of skeletal muscle in this species.