The role of platelet-derived growth factor in turkey skeletal muscle development

The role of platelet-derived growth factor (PDGF) isoforms in the proliferation of turkey skeletal muscle cells was examined using turkey myogenic cells. To compare the effects of PDGF during different developmental stages, postnatal myogenic satellite cell and embryonic myoblast cultures were developed for in vitro comparisons. Satellite cell cultures from turkeys selected and unselected for skeletal muscle accretion rates were also established to compare the role of PDGF in turkeys with different genetic origins. The results demonstrated that the BE and AB isoforms of PDGF enhanced satellite cell and embryonic myoblast proliferation, while the AA isoform had no effect. Satellite cells and embryonic myoblasts were more responsive to the BE isoform than to the AB isoform. Competitive binding assays demonstrated that there were no differences between PDGF receptor affinities or receptor numbers on either embryonic myoblasts and satellite cells or satellite cells derived from selected and unselected turkeys. The results suggest that PDGF may be an important mitogenic factor in turkey skeletal muscle development.