Electrical pulse stimulation of skeletal myoblasts cell cultures with simulated action potentials

Abstract

Electrical pulse stimulation has an important effect on skeletal muscle development and maturation. However, the methodology for controlling these stimulation parameters to develop in vitro functional skeletal muscle tissues remains to be established. In this work, we have studied the effect of simulated action potentials on the growth and differentiation of skeletal myoblast cell cultures. A circuit simulating action potentials of 0.15 and 0.3 V/mm, at a frequency of 1 Hz and with a 4-ms pulse width, is proposed. Results show an important improvement of the growth rate and differentiation of myoblasts at a voltage of 0.15 V/mm. Parameters such as electrodes geometry or type of signals must be considered in the development of in vitro skeletal muscle.