title: [Biological characteristics of continuously subcultured human embryonic skeletal myoblasts].
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To investigate the biological characteristics of continuously subcultured human embryonic skeletal myoblasts, and choose the optimal seeding cells for muscle tissue engineering.
  
  
  METHODS
  Human embryonic skeletal myoblasts were subcultured in vitro. The growth curve, rate of myotube formation(RMF) were used to evaluate the proliferative and differentiation ability of myoblasts, and to investigate the influence of fibroblasts contamination on myoblasts.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The beginning 6 passages of myoblasts showed strong proliferative and differentiation ability. From the 8th to 20th passage, the rate of fibroblasts contamination was increased, it mainly showed the growth characteristics of fibroblasts with increased proliferation and low differentiation. After subcultured to the 20th passage, the degeneration of myoblasts was obvious.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The myoblasts within 6 passages should be used as the seeding cells of muscle tissue engineering because of strong proliferative ability and high rate of myotube formation.
authors.affiliation: Department of Orthopedic Surgery, First University Hospital, West China University of Medical Sciences, Chengdu Sichuan, P. R. China 610041.
authors.forename: S Q
authors.initials: SQ
authors.lastname: Cen
authors.forename: Z M
authors.initials: ZM
authors.lastname: Yang
authors.forename: H Q
authors.initials: HQ
authors.lastname: Xie
mesh_terms: D002455:Cell Division; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D005333:Fetus; D006801:Humans; D018482:Muscle, Skeletal / Q000166:cytology*; D023822:Tissue Engineering