[Acidic fibroblast growth factor promotes the growth of skeletal muscle satellite cells: experiment with rabbits].

OBJECTIVE

To explore if human recombinant acidic fibroblast growth factor (rhaFGF) can promote the proliferation of skeletal muscle satellite cells (MSCs).

METHODS

MSCs were obtained from rabbits and cultured, and divided into 2 groups: rhaFGF group, treated with rhaFGF of the concentrations of 0, 5, 10, 20, 40, 60, and 80 microg/L, and rhaFGF + low molecular weight heparin (LMWH) group, treated with rhaFGF of different concentrations and LMWH of the terminal concentration of 10 mg/L. MTT method was used to observe the proliferation of the MSCs so as to determine the appropriate concentration to be used in the next experiment. Other MSCs were cultured and treated with the rhaFGF of the appropriate concentration and then LMWH of the terminal concentration of 10 mg/L was added to be co-cultured for 3 days. Flow cytometry was used to observe the cell cycle of the MSCs.

RESULTS

rhaFGF of the concentrations 20 approximately 60 ng/ml promoted the proliferation of MSCs, and 40 ng/ml was selected as the best concentration to be used in the next experiment. Treated with the rhaFGF of the concentration of 40 ng/ml and LMWH for 3 days, the proportion of MSCs at the stage G(0)/G(1) was significantly lower and those at the stage S significantly higher in comparison with the control group (both P < 0.01), however, not significantly different from those of the rhaFGF group.

CONCLUSION

rhaFGF promotes the proliferation of MSCs.