Mouse Skeletal Muscle Satellite Cells (MSkMSC)

Overview

Mouse Skeletal Muscle Satellite Cells (MSkMSC) is a cell model used for research applications where physiologically relevant identity and donor background support interpretation of experimental readouts. Mouse Satellite cells derived from Muscle of the pectoral girdle (Skeletal Muscle) within the Musculoskeletal system.

Skeletal muscle contains both differentiated myofibers and stem cells, known as satellite cells. The satellite cells, comprising around 1% of the total muscle nuclei, are situated between the plasma membrane of the multinucleated muscle cells and the basal lamina that surrounds each myofiber. In adult muscle, satellite cells are quiescent but proliferate in response to muscle injury, producing myoblasts that can either form new satellite cells or fuse with one another or pre-existing multinucleated muscle cells to help repair the muscle. They are responsible for postnatal muscle growth, hypertrophy and regeneration of skeletal muscle [1] . When quiescent satellite cells are activated, they co-express the transcription factors Pax7 and myoD [2] . Mouse Skeletal Muscle Satellite Cells (MSkMSC) from iXCells are isolated from mouse muscle of the pectoral girdle. MSkMSC are cryopreserved at passage one and delivered frozen. Each vial contains >5 x 10^5 cells in 1 ml volume. MSkMSC are characterized by immunofluorescence with antibodies specific to myosin, actin and actinin. MSkMSC are negative for mycoplasma, bacteria, yeast and fungi. MSkMSC are guaranteed to further expand for 15 population doublings using the culture medium provided by iXCells .

Key elements and design rationale

• Cell identity: Satellite cells (Primary Cells, Custom Cells)
• Source context: Muscle of the pectoral girdle; Skeletal Muscle; Musculoskeletal
• Donor background: Age: Postnatal, Adult
• Biosafety level: BSL-1 (follow your institution’s biosafety program and local regulations)

Product-specific elements (such as tissue source, donor background, and cell classification) help frame how results should be interpreted across assays and experimental conditions.

Biological background

Cells originating from the Musculoskeletal system are commonly studied to understand tissue-specific physiology, signaling, and responses to perturbations in controlled in vitro settings.

Across primary and specialty cell models, experimental outcomes can be influenced by donor heterogeneity, passage history, confluence, and media composition. For interpretation, it is common to validate key markers or functional phenotypes in the user’s assay context and to document culture variables consistently.

Research relevance and current trends

• Increasing use of primary and specialty cells to improve translational relevance for target biology and phenotypic screening.
• Adoption of 3D culture formats and co-culture systems to better capture tissue microenvironments and cell–cell interactions.
• Integration of functional readouts with single-cell and multi-omics profiling to connect phenotype with molecular state.

Common research applications

• Profile identity markers by flow cytometry or immunostaining in cultured cells
• Quantify functional responses to defined stimuli relevant to the model system
• Compare baseline phenotype across donors/conditions using gene expression profiling
• Evaluate matrix remodeling and differentiation programs in musculoskeletal cell models
• Screen compounds or genetic perturbations for phenotype modulation using viability or imaging endpoints

Interpretation typically focuses on how a perturbation (e.g., cytokine exposure, metabolic stress, genetic manipulation, or compound treatment) shifts marker profiles or functional readouts relative to an appropriate control matched for donor and culture variables.

Notes for experimental interpretation

• Donor-to-donor heterogeneity can influence baseline phenotype and treatment response; include biological replicates when feasible.
• Passage number, confluence, and media composition can shift gene expression and functional readouts; track and report these variables consistently.
• Contamination control (including routine mycoplasma monitoring) supports reproducibility in downstream assays.
• Use appropriate negative/positive controls for the readout (e.g., unstimulated controls, pathway agonists/antagonists) to contextualize observed changes.

SKU:BHC18500293

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