Myogenic and adipogenic properties of goat skeletal muscle stem cells

The aims of the present study were to establish a culture system for goat skeletal muscle stem cells and to examine their myogenic and adipogenic properties in vitro. Cells were isolated from the skeletal muscle of the Shiba goat and cultured in vitro. Most of the cells were positive for myogenic markers, such as Pax7, MyoD, and desmin, and immunocytochemistry revealed they differentiated to form myotubes expressing myosin heavy chain, indicating they were highly myogenic. Myogenic differentiation was strongly suppressed by the addition of basic fibroblast growth factor, while proliferation was unaffected. When the cells were cultured in adipogenic differentiation medium, some of the cells differentiated into mature adipocytes that stained with Oil Red-O. These cells were immunocytochemically positive for adipogenic markers, including peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor-gamma (PPAR gamma) and CCAAT/enhancer-binding protein-alpha. (C/EBP alpha). These results clearly demonstrate the presence of both myogenic and adipogenic stem cells in goat skeletal muscle.