TM Promotes Proliferative Activity and Number of Muscle Cells in Embryos and Posthatch Chicks
Total myoblast number per gram of breast muscle in all groups peaked between E12 and E15 and then declined toward hatch (Figure 3a). After hatch, myoblast number reached a peak on d 3, followed by a sharp decline. Embryos of the 2 TM groups exhibited a higher number of myoblasts per gram muscle compared to controls, and at the peak of myoblast proliferation on E12 and E13, there were 25 to 48% more cells in the TM treatments compared to controls. However, these differences gradually diminished toward the end of incubation, with no difference on E19. After hatch, the differences in myoblast number per gram muscle resumed in favor of the TM groups until d 6 (Figure 3b). However, on d 13, myoblast numbers were significantly lower in the TM vs. control groups (Figure 3b).