Isolation and primary culture methods of adult and larval myogenic cells from Xenopus laevis

Abstract

During amphibian metamorphosis, larval-to-adult conversion of the myogenic system occurs and there are two distinct types of muscle stem cells; larval myogenic cells have a death-fate by apoptosis in the presence of thyroid hormone T3, and adult myogenic cells have a life-fate under the same conditions. Here, we describe isolation and culture methods for adult and larval myogenic cells from the frog, Xenopus laevis. Both types of cultured myogenic cells undergo cell division and cell differentiation, i.e., formation of multinucleated myotubes in serum-containing medium. Insulin-like growth factor-1 promotes cell division and differentiation in both cells. Basic properties and some applications of primary culture are also described.