Work

Effects of increasing concentrations of α-tocopherol on proliferating primary ovine satellite cells and abundance of transcripts associated with myogenic progression

Year: 2026

Type: article

Abstract: Adequate nutrition is critical for proper sheep skeletal muscle growth. Antioxidants such as vitamin E scavenge free radicals to support the growth of sheep skeletal muscle. While deficient concentrations have been identified, the concentration for optimizing sheep skeletal muscle growth is unknown. The purpose of this study is to determine if increasing concentrations of one of the biologically active forms of vitamin E, α-tocopherol, affects the proliferation rate of primary ovine satellite cells (OSC), and the resulting impacts of transcriptional markers related to myogenic progression, vitamin uptake, and skeletal muscle growth. To analyze proliferation, cultures were plated and grown to approximately 70% confluency before cultures were treated using 5% fetal bovine serum (FBS) or α-tocopherol concentrations (4.6 µM, 9.2 µM, 13.8 µM) in FBS. Rates of proliferation were measured 24-h following treatment. The mRNA abundance of 44 genes associated with skeletal muscle growth, α-tocopherol, and α-tocopherol’s interaction with other micronutrients were examined at 0.5, 12, and 24-h post-treatment. Increasing concentrations of α-tocopherol did not linearly ( P = 0.35 ) or quadratically ( P = 0.39 ) increase proliferation rates of OSC. There was no treatment effect ( P > 0.10 ) of abundance on paired-box transcription factor-7 ( PAX7), myogenic factor-5 (MYF5), mammalian target of rapamycin (MTOR), ATP-binding cassette (ABCA1), or scavenger receptor class B member 1 ( SCARB1) . The results of this research suggest that the evaluated dosages of α-tocopherol do not increase the proliferation rates of OSC but may alter transcriptional markers of myogenic progression.

Source: Veterinary and Animal Science

DOI: 10.1016/j.vas.2026.100902