CHLORAMPHENICOL, AN INHIBITOR OF MITOCHONDRIAL PROTEIN-SYNTHESIS, INHIBITS MYOBLAST FUSION AND MYOTUBE DIFFERENTIATION

Chloramphenicol (100 mug/ml), an inhibitor of mitochondrial protein sy nthesis, inhibits the fusion of myoblasts isolated from chick embryo p ectoral muscle in both, serum supplemented and serum-free culture cond itions. This inhibition of myotube formation appeared reversible only in the defined media. Tryptose phosphate broth and nucleosides, when a dded in the presence of chloramphenicol, were able to restore the cell capacity to proliferate but not to fuse and differentiate.