Rabbit Anti-Bovine Myostatin (MSTN) Polyclonal Antibody-[FITC]

Bovine myostatin, also known as growth and differentiation factor 8 (GDF8), is a key negative regulator of muscle growth and development. It belongs to the TGF-beta superfamily and plays a crucial role in determining muscle mass by inhibiting the proliferation of myogenic cells and promoting satellite cell activation and renewal. Myostatin's loss-of-function mutations are associated with an increase in muscle mass due to hyperplasia (increased number of muscle fibers) and hypertrophy (increased size of muscle fibers). It also influences the differentiation of muscle fiber types, potentially leading to an increase in fast-glycolytic fibers at the expense of oxidative fibers. The molecular action of myostatin involves binding to the activin type IIB receptor and activating the SMAD signaling pathway, which partially mediates its inhibitory effects on myogenesis. Myostatin is thus a significant target in the context of muscle growth and development in cattle.