Objective: To investigate the biological characteristics of human muscle satellite cell cultured in vitro.
Methods: Human muscle satellite cells were obtained from skeletal muscle biopsies of six patients during corrective orthopedic surgery, cultivated in growth medium for ten days, then in differentiation medium for additional five days. Human satellite cells were identified with monoclonal antibody against desmin. Cells were observed under phase contrast microscopy.
Results: Human muscle satellite cells proliferated in growth medium, and fused to form myotubes in differentiation medium. After 24 hours in differentiation medium, the confluent satellite cells began to fuse actively and achieved the top level at 72 hours.
Conclusion: Human muscle satellite cell can proliferate and differentiate in appropriate culture condition. Immunocytochemical detection of desmin is the effective early method to determine satellite cell.