USE OF ANTIBODIES TO IDENTIFY SATELLITE CELLS WITH A LIGHT-MICROSCOPE

Satellite cells are essential for the growth and regeneration of skele tal muscles but the study of them has been difficult due to the need t o use an electron microscope. This article describes a method which en ables satellite cells to be identified with a light microscope. Satell ite cells were distinguished from: (1) myonuclei on the basis of wheth er the nuclei were inside or outside the plasmalemma of a fiber (stain ed with antidystrophin); and (2) interstitial cells depending on wheth er they were inside or outside of a fiber's basal lamina (stained with anticollagen IV). Some satellite cells were stained by the antidystro phin which further aided their identification. The question of whether all satellite cells are myogenic has been investigated and discussed. This method will facilitate the study of satellite cells in biopsies of human muscles and the estimation of satellite cell number in labora tory animals. (C) 1994 John Wiley & Sons, Inc.