Consumer preference for poultry meat products has continued to increase during the past two decades. Despite selection practices substantially increasing growth rate, feed conversion, and muscle weight, an increase number of muscling myopathies affecting meat quality have arisen. Post-hatch muscle growth is through myogenic stem cells, satellite cells, which fuse with existing fibers increasing protein synthesis. Since satellite cells are partially differentiated stem cells, they can be induced to follow other cell lineage pathways If muscle fiber development is altered too much and connective tissue which supports muscle fibers and fiber bundles is starved out, blood supply to the muscle will be limited resulting in hypoxia.
This Research Topic will focus on muscle development and growth mechanisms, and how changes in the structure and biology of muscle are associated with avian muscle myopathies and meat quality.
Consumer preference for poultry meat products has continued to increase during the past two decades. Despite selection practices substantially increasing growth rate, feed conversion, and muscle weight, an increase number of muscling myopathies affecting meat quality have arisen. Post-hatch muscle growth is through myogenic stem cells, satellite cells, which fuse with existing fibers increasing protein synthesis. Since satellite cells are partially differentiated stem cells, they can be induced to follow other cell lineage pathways If muscle fiber development is altered too much and connective tissue which supports muscle fibers and fiber bundles is starved out, blood supply to the muscle will be limited resulting in hypoxia.
This Research Topic will focus on muscle development and growth mechanisms, and how changes in the structure and biology of muscle are associated with avian muscle myopathies and meat quality.