Figure 4. Creatine enhances myoblast fusion independent of proliferation or differentiation.

Myoblasts were differentiated in the presence and absence of 75 mm creatine (CRT) for either 24 or 48 h and subsequently immunostained for eMyHC. A, no significant difference in the total number of nuclei per field occurred with creatine treatment. B, creatine did not effect the percentage of nuclei in eMyHC⁺ cells at 24 h. C, the fusion index was significantly increased in cells treated with creatine for 48 h. D, the number of myotubes per field was significantly decreased following 48 h of creatine treatment. Data are means ±s.e.m. from three independent experiments. (*P < 0.05.)