Characterisation of Lates calcarifer primary myoblast proliferation and differentiation from direct cell isolation

Cell type characterisation is pivotal for scientific research and discovery. In the literature, multiple fish cell types have been investigated. Nonetheless, primary myoblasts from barramundi (Lates calcarifer) remain poorly characterised, despite their potential applications for cellular aquaculture and disease modelling. This study characterised primary barramundi myoblasts by assessing their proliferative capacity and differentiation potential, using molecular and cellular biology techniques. The results show that isolated primary barramundi myoblasts exhibit a faster doubling time compared to previously characterised embryonic cell lines, and retain the ability to form mature myotubes, even in cultures containing mixed cell populations. This study presents the first detailed description of primary barramundi myoblasts, providing foundational data to support the future use of these cells.