In vitro characteristics of myogenic satellite cells derived from the pectoralis major and biceps femoris muscles of the chicken.

Satellite cells were isolated from the pectoralis major (PM) and biceps femoris (BF) muscles of 5-week-old broiler chickens to compare growth and differentiation characteristics in vitro. BF cells proliferated at greater rates in the growth medium and were more responsive to the mitogenic effects of chicken serum than PM cells at all levels tested (p < or = 0.05). When low serum-containing medium was administered, the levels of creatine kinase, a marker of differentiation, increased at greater rates in PM cultures than in BF cultures (p < or = 0.05). Administration of increasing levels of fibroblast growth factor in serum-free medium resulted in similar responsiveness of the two lines to this mitogen. No differences were detected in rates of protein synthesis or degradation in myotube cultures from the two muscle sources. The results suggest that satellite cells derived from PM and BF muscles of the chicken have different responsiveness to serum mitogens.