Characteristics of Muscle Fiber-Type Distribution in Moles

Human and African ape myosin heavy chain content and the evolution of hominin skeletal muscle

Humans are unique among terrestrial mammals in our manner of walking and running, reflecting 7 to 8 Ma of musculoskeletal evolution since diverging with the genus Pan. One component of this is a shift in our skeletal muscle biology towards a predominance of myosin heavy chain (MyHC) I isoforms (i.e. slow fibers) across our pelvis and lower limbs, which distinguishes us from chimpanzees. Here, new MyHC data from 35 pelvis and hind limb muscles of a Western gorilla (Gorilla gorilla) are presented. These data are combined with a similar chimpanzee dataset to assess the MyHC I content of humans in comparison to African apes (chimpanzees and gorillas) and other terrestrial mammals. The responsiveness of human skeletal muscle to behavioral interventions is also compared to the human-African ape differential. Humans are distinct from African apes and among a small group of terrestrial mammals whose pelvis and hind/lower limb muscle is slow fiber dominant, on average. Behavioral interventions, including immobilization, bed rest, spaceflight and exercise, can induce modest decreases and increases in human MyHC I content (i.e. -9.3% to 2.3%, n = 2033 subjects), but these shifts are much smaller than the mean human-African ape differential (i.e. 31%). Taken together, these results indicate muscle fiber content is likely an evolvable trait under selection in the hominin lineage. As such, we highlight potential targets of selection in the genome (e.g. regions that regulate MyHC content) that may play an important role in hominin skeletal muscle evolution.

Morphometric examination of hind limb and foot bones and fibre type composition of crus region muscles in quail and pigeon

In this study, the foot and hind limb bones of pigeons and quails were measured morphometrically. Additionally, microscopic classifications of the muscles affecting the foot and digit joints were made. For the macroscopic inspection, 40 birds were used, including 20 adult quails (10 males, 10 females) and 20 adult pigeons (10 males, 10 females). Diethyl ether was inhaled to anaesthetize the animals. The poultry animals were put under anaesthesia, and radiographic pictures of their left feet were obtained individually. DAP measurements were performed separately from the images taken with the Image J program. Then, they were euthanized by cervical dislocation under diethyl ether anaesthesia. The right legs of the euthanized animals were preserved in a 10% neutral formalin solution for histology procedures just after the legs were dissected from the trunk. Morphometric measurements of bone lengths were made in accordance with the measurement points specified by von den Driesch. After fixation for histological examination, routine tissue follow-up was performed and the tissues were embedded in paraffin. The presence of SO-type I, FG-type IIb and FOG-type IIa in 4-5 μ sections taken from paraffin blocks was demonstrated using the indirect streptavidin-biotin-complex method from immunohistochemical methods. The result of our study was statistically evaluated at p < 0.05 and p < 0.001 levels. The length of the hallux, the articulation point to the TMT and the fibre arrangements in the two flexor group muscles showed that the hind limbs and feet of the pigeons had a more favourable anatomical and histological structure for the perching movement.

Behavioral correlates of fascicular organization: The confluence of muscle architectural anatomy and function

Muscle is a complex tissue that has been studied on numerous hierarchical levels: from gross descriptions of muscle organization to cellular analyses of fiber profiles. In the middle of this space between organismal and cellular biology lies muscle architecture, the level at which functional correlations between a muscle's internal fiber organization and contractile abilities are explored. In this review, we summarize this relationship, detail recent advances in our understanding of this form-function paradigm, and highlight the role played by The Anatomical Record in advancing our understanding of functional morphology within muscle over the past two decades. In so doing, we honor the legacy of Editor-in-Chief Kurt Albertine, whose stewardship of the journal from 2006 through 2020 oversaw the flourishing of myological research, including numerous special issues dedicated to exploring the behavioral correlates of myology across diverse taxa. This legacy has seen the The Anatomical Record establish itself as a preeminent source of myological research, and a true leader within the field of comparative anatomy and functional morphology.

Muscle architecture and muscle fibre type composition in the forelimb of two African mole-rat species, Bathyergus suillus and Heterocephalus glaber

The scratch-digging Cape dune mole-rat (Bathyergus suillus), and the chisel-toothed digging naked mole-rat (Heterocephalus glaber) are African mole-rats that differ in their digging strategy. The aim of this study was to determine if these behavioural differences are reflected in the muscle architecture and fibre-type composition of the forelimb muscles. Muscle architecture parameters of 39 forelimb muscles in both species were compared. Furthermore, muscle fibre type composition of 21 forelimb muscles were analysed using multiple staining protocols. In B. suillus, muscles involved with the power stroke of digging (limb retractors and scapula elevators), showed higher muscle mass percentage, force output and shortening capacity compared to those in H. glaber. Additionally, significantly higher percentages of glycolytic fibres were observed in the scapular elevators and digital flexors of B. suillus compared to H. glaber, suggesting that the forelimb muscles involved in digging in B. suillus provide fast, powerful motions for effective burrowing. In contrast, the m. sternohyoideus a head and neck flexor, had significantly more oxidative fibres in H. glaber compared to B. suillus. In addition, significantly greater physiological cross-sectional area and fascicle length values were seen in the neck flexor, m. sternocleidomastoideus, in H. glaber compared to B. suillus, which indicates a possible adaptation for chisel-tooth digging. While functional demands may play a significant role in muscle morphology, the phylogenetic differences between the two species may play an additional role which needs further study.

Differential expression of myosin heavy chain isoforms type II in skeletal muscles of polar and black bears

In this study, the pattern of myosin heavy chain (MHC) isoforms expression in skeletal muscles of the trunk, forelimb and hindlimb in Polar Bear (PB) Ursus maritimus; American Black Bear (AmBB), Ursus americanus and Asian Black Bear (AsBB), Ursus thibetanus was analysed by immunohistochemistry and SDS-PAGE. Results showed that slow (MHC-I) and fast (MHC-II) isoforms exist in muscles of bears. Type II fibres were classified further into Type IIa and IIx in PB but not in AsBB and AmBB. The distribution of Type I and Type II fibres in the trunk, forelimb and hindlimb varied based on muscle type and animal species. The proportions of Type I fibres formed approximately one-third of muscle composition in PB (trunk, 32.0%; forelimb, 34.7%; hindlimb, 34.5%) and a half in both AsBB and AmBB whereas Type IIa and IIx formed approximately two-third in PB (trunk, 68.0%; forelimb, 65.3%; hindlimb, 65.5%) and a half of Type II in both AmBB and AsBB. PB is a good swimmer, lives in Arctic Ocean on slippery ice catching aquatic mammals such as seals and is larger in size compared to the medium sized AmBB (living in forest) and AsBB (arboreal). The results suggest that in bears, there is greater diversity in MHC isoforms II, being expressed in selected fast contracting skeletal muscles in response to variety of environments, weight bearing and locomotion.

Immunohistochemistry of kangaroo rat hindlimb muscles

Kangaroo rats (Dipodomys spp.) use specialized bipedal hopping like that of kangaroos. In contrast to kangaroos that have elastic tendons capable of storing energy, kangaroo rats have inelastic tendons that are unable to store large amounts of energy. Thus, the musculature of the ankle joint provides the greatest power contribution to kangaroo rat hopping. Skeletal muscle can be characterized by several fiber types, including slow twitch (Type I) and fast twitch (Type II) fibers. Fast fibers are found in higher concentration in muscles that perform quick, dynamic movements, whereas slow fibers are found in higher proportion in muscles that perform slow, endurant movements. Using fiber type specific antibodies, we identified four pure (Types I, IIA, IIB, and IIX) and two hybrid (Types I/IIA and IIA/IIX) fiber types in six hindlimb muscles from three kangaroo rats (Dipodomys merriami) to investigate the relationship between fiber composition and hindlimb muscle function. Hindlimb muscles (except soleus) were dominated by Type IIB fibers, which were largest in cross-sectional area, and are known to be best suited for rapid and explosive movements. Oxidative Type IIA and Type IIX fibers were found at moderate concentrations and likely function in maintaining continual saltatory locomotion. Thus, kangaroo rats can use these two fiber type populations as "gears" for both endurant and explosive behaviors.

Hind foot drumming: Myosin heavy chain muscle fiber distribution in the hind limb muscles of three African mole-rat species (Bathyergidae)

Hind foot drumming as a form of seismic signaling plays a pivotal role in the communication of various mammalian species including Bathyergidae (African mole-rats). The aim of the present study was to histologically determine if the action of hind foot drumming would influence the number of type II fibers present in the hind limb muscles of two drumming (Georychus capensis and Bathyergus suillus) and one non-drumming (Cryptomys hottentotus natalensis) bathyergid species. Twenty-one frozen muscles of each species were selected for the purpose of mid-belly cryostat sections. These sections were immunohistochemically labeled for myosin heavy chain slow muscle fibers (MHCs). In addition, oxidative capacity was determined by means of histochemical staining. A high percentage of fast type II muscle fibers was found in all the functional muscle groups, although there were no statistical differences between the drumming and non-drumming species. Bathyergus suillus had significantly fewer type II fibers in mm. semitendinosus, gluteofemoralis, tibialis cranialis, plantaris, and the medial head of m. gastrocnemius compared to the other two species. In all three species, the majority of the muscle fibers in all functional muscle groups demonstrated low oxidative capacity which correlated with the expression of type II muscle fibers. It therefore seems likely that the number of type II muscle fibers in the hind limb muscles of the Bathyergidae species studied here is more influenced by either body size or digging strategy rather than being an adaptation for hind foot drumming.

Underground locomotion in moles: kinematic and electromyographic studies of locomotion in the Japanese mole (Mogera wogura)

A series of kinematic and electromyographic (EMG) studies were conducted to characterize the neural control of underground movement in the Japanese mole, Mogera wogura. For the purposes of the present study, the locomotion of moles was classified into two modes: crawling, which comprises alternate movements of the left and right forelimbs; and burrowing, in which both forelimbs move synchronously. In crawling, moles exhibit both symmetrical and asymmetrical locomotion independent of cycle duration and speed of travel. In burrowing, the movements of fore- and hindlimbs, and of the left and right hindlimb are loosely coordinated. We divided cycles of limb movement into recovery stroke phase and power stroke phases and observed that control of cycle duration in forelimbs and hindlimbs was achieved through changes to both recovery and power stroke phases. Our results showed phasic EMG bursts in various muscles in moles, whose timing differed from that seen in terrestrial four-legged mammals such as cats and dogs. The difference was especially apparent in the m. longissimus, in which EMG bursts recorded at the level of the thoracic and lumbar vertebrae corresponded to movements of the forelimbs and hindlimbs, respectively. Thus, we conclude that moles have evolved a distinctive mechanism of neural control to perform their specialized forms of underground locomotion.