Diet‐induced obesity alters skeletal muscle satellite cell functional capacity.

Skeletal muscle satellite cells are integral for normal muscle growth. As skeletal muscle is the largest organ for blood glucose disposal, we were interested to ascertain whether a high fat diet (HFD) would negatively impact muscle satellite cells, and thus have a negative impact on skeletal muscle growth. Using isolated, intact single fibers, we found that the number of satellite cells in an 'activated state' was significantly enhanced (159 ± 21% of control) while their proliferative capacity was significantly impaired (55 ± 9 % of control). Preliminary analysis of cells isolated from HFD muscle demonstrate neither a significant impairment in migration capacity, using a Boyd's filter chamber, nor in the ability to fuse or express myosin heavy chain after 48 and 96 hours of exposure to differentiation media. These preliminary findings suggest that HFD induces a satellite cell state similar to that found in atrophic muscle, where there is an initial enhancement in activation and impairment in proliferative ability. Alternative techniques for assessing satellite cell activation and proliferation are ongoing to confirm these results. Importantly, the potential irreversible effects of diet‐induced obesity on satellite cell function in young muscle requires further investigation to fully define the implications on long‐term muscle growth and regeneration.