Isolation, Culture and Biological Characteristics of Tibetan Mastiff (Canis lupus Familiaris) Muscle Satellite Cells

Abstract

With the ability of self-renewal and multipotenntial differentiation, muscle satellite cells (MSCs) are recognized as a population of tissue-specific progenitors which play an important role in the growth, repair and regeneration of muscles. Satellite cells have been isolated for a very long time, but the techniques of isolation are still to be improved. In this study, MSCs were obtained from aborted Tibetan mastiff fetuses (about 60 days) under sterile conditions. Primary MSCs were sub-cultured to passage 25 in vitro. The gene of C-met, MyoD1, Desmin and Pax7 were detected by RT-polymerase chain reaction and immunofluorescence assays. The result showed that they were positive in MSCs of Tibetan mastiff. The growth of different passages cells typically appeared in S curve. Furthermore, myogenic, osteogenic and adipogenic differenciation of MSCs were successfully induced. The results denoted that the MSCs obtained from Tibetan Mastiffs exhibited the characteristics of multipotent stem cells. Therefore, this work provided a theoretical and technical basis for Tibetan mastiff, even its genetic resources preservation and laid a solid foundation for studying the mechanism of skeletal muscle growth and development in future.