Notch signaling leads to a slower progression of embryonic myogenic differentiation in Landrace than in Langtang pigs

Delving into porcine embryonic myogenesis is the key to elucidate the complex regulation of breed-specific differences in growth performance and meat production. Increasing evidence proves that pigs with less meat production show earlier embryonic myogenesis, but little is known about the underlying mechanisms. In this study, we examine the longissimus dorsi muscle (LDM) by immunohistochemistry and confirm that the differentiation of myogenic progenitors is increased (P < 0.05) in Lantang (LT, fatty) pigs compared with that in Landrace (LR, lean) pigs, which results in more (P < 0.001) differentiated myoblasts (Pax7(-)/MyoD(+)) and less (P < 0.001) myogenic progenitors (Pax7(+)/MyoD(-)) in LT pigs at 35 days post-conception (35dpc). Additionally, embryonic myogenic progenitors isolated from LT pigs show greater (P < 0.001) differentiation capacity with earlier expression of MyoD compared with those from LR pigs. Moreover, Notch signaling is more active (P < 0.05) in LR pig myogenic progenitors than in LT pig myogenic progenitors. Inhibition of Notch signaling in LR myogenic progenitors suppresses Pax7 expression and increases MyoD expression, thus promoting myogenic differentiation. Consistently, the process of myogenic progenitors differentiating into myoblasts in ex vivo embryo limbs is accelerated when Notch signaling is inhibited. These results indicate that Notch signaling facilitates the maintenance of myogenic progenitors and antagonizes myogenic differentiation by promoting Pax7 expression and preventing MyoD expression in LR pigs.