Intensive genetic selection for rapid muscle growth in poultry has reshaped satellite cell proliferation, differentiation, and functional heterogeneity, contributing to breast muscle myopathies.
This review highlights how genetic selection for rapid growth in poultry alters satellite cell biology, potentially driving the pathogenesis of muscle myopathies like wooden breast.
Over the past several decades, intensive genetic selection has markedly increased growth rate, breast muscle yield, and production efficiency in commercial broilers. These gains have been accompanied by substantial changes in muscle organization, physiology, metabolism, and cellular regulation. Satellite cells, the resident muscle stem cells, play a key role in posthatch muscle growth by supplying nuclei to adjacent growing myofibers, thereby supporting the muscle hypertrophy process. This review summarizes the role of satellite cells in poultry muscle development and discusses how genetic selection for rapid muscle growth has reshaped satellite cell proliferation, differentiation, molecular profiles, and functional heterogeneity, with important consequences for muscle growth and quality. Moreover, increasing evidence suggests that changes in satellite cell function associated with genetic selection may contribute to the development of breast muscle myopathies, particularly wooden breast in broiler chickens. Moving forward, continued refinement of poultry production systems will benefit from deeper insights into satellite cell biology to support efficient muscle growth while reducing the occurrence of muscle myopathies.
Yimiletey et al. (2026) conducted a review in Muscle growth and wooden breast myopathy in poultry. Genetic selection vs. Legacy or unselected lines was evaluated. Intensive genetic selection for rapid muscle growth in poultry has reshaped satellite cell proliferation, differentiation, and functional heterogeneity, contributing to breast muscle myopathies.