Abstract

Background The Arbas Cashmere Goat of Inner Mongolia is renowned for its meat, characterized by a firm and fine texture, high nutritional value, evenly distributed fat, and a distinctive flavor profile that combines the unique taste of goat meat with the tenderness of mutton. During the growth and development of cashmere goats, skeletal muscle development serves as a critical biological foundation determining production performance and meat quality, directly impacting the economic efficiency of animal husbandry. In recent years, research into the molecular mechanisms underlying skeletal muscle growth and development has advanced significantly. It has become increasingly clear that short-chain fatty acids (SCFAs), microbial metabolites derived from the gut microbiota, act as natural small-molecule compounds regulating muscle homeostasis via the “gut-muscle axis”. Among these SCFAs, butyrate stands out as a crucial mediator molecule for deciphering the interaction mechanisms between the microbiome and muscle biology, owing to its unique epigenetic regulatory capabilities and signaling pathway activation properties. However, the specific regulatory mechanisms of butyrate in the skeletal muscle of Arbas Cashmere Goats remain poorly understood. Therefore, this study aims to investigate the regulatory mechanism of sodium butyrate (NaB) on the growth and development of skeletal muscle satellite cells (MuSCs) in Arbas Cashmere Goats, an area that remains understudied. Results The present study demonstrates that NaB promotes the proliferation of MuSCs by coordinately activating the CSF1R-ERK1/2-RSK2 signaling axis and enhancing the acetylation levels at histone H3K9 and H3K27 sites. This finding provides new insights into the molecular mechanisms by which small-molecule compounds regulate skeletal muscle development and offers experimental evidence for understanding the regulatory basis of muscle development in the Arbas Cashmere Goat. Conclusions This study systematically