[Morphological study on three-dimensional culture of rat muscle satellite cells under cyclic mechanical stretch].

Objective: To study the effect of mechanical stretch on the morphologic change of rat muscle satellite cell in the three-dimensional culture.

Methods: Based on the apparatus for three-dimensional cell cultures under a cyclic mechanical strain, a specific stretch pattern (10% elongation, 10 stretches/min for 10 min of each hour 48 h total) was applied to cell-scaffolding composites.

Results: Under the stretch pattern, the shape of satellite cells changed to oblate and spread to the direction of the stretch. Furthermore, the myotube was observed. On the contrary, the satellite cells spread to the all direction, and the formation of the myotube was not been found in the control group.

Conclusion: Cyclic mechanical stretch is helpful for the formation of the ideal directivity and these results are compatible with a significant role for the stretch in tissue-engineered muscle construction.