Non-canonical muscle stem cells and other lessons from regenerative vertebrates

In this perspective, we explore the developmental mechanisms of muscle stem cells in multiple non-mammalian vertebrate species, and we compare these phenomena to those in mammals. Particularly, we discuss two recently described populations of noncanonical muscle progenitors in regenerative vertebrates: one in zebrafish and one in axolotl. We discuss the capabilities of these two populations during muscle development and regeneration, including the implications for muscle repair in mammals.