pH sensitivity of myosin adenosine triphosphatase and subtypes of myofibres in porcine muscle

Histoenzymology and morphometry of the masticatory muscles of tufted capuchin monkey (Cebus apella Linnaeus, 1758)

Samples of the anterior and posterior regions of the masseter and temporal muscles and of the anterior belly of the digastric muscle of 4 adult male tufted capuchin monkeys (Cebus apella) were removed and stained with HE and submitted to the m-ATPase reaction (with alkaline and acid preincubation) and to the NADH-TR and SDH reactions. The results of the histoenzymologic reactions were similar, except for acid reversal which did not occur in fibers of the fast glycolytic (FG) type in the mandibular locomotor muscles. FG fibers had a larger area and were more frequent in all regions studied. No significant differences in frequency or area of each fiber type were detected, considering the anterior and posterior regions of the masseter and temporal muscles. The frequency of fibers of the fast oxidative glycolytic (FOG) and slow oxidative (SO) types and of FOG area differed significantly between the anterior belly of the digastric muscle and the mandibular locomotor muscle. The predominance of fast twitch (FG and FOG) fibers and the multipenniform and bipenniform internal architecture of the masseter and temporal muscles, respectively, are characteristics that permit the powerful bite typical of tufted capuchin monkeys.

Immunohistochemical myofiber typing and high-resolution myofibrillar lesion detection in LR white embedded muscle

We have developed a method of fixing, embedding, sectioning, and staining that allows high-resolution detection of myofibrillar structure and myosin immunocytochemical muscle fiber typing in serial semithin sections of LR White plastic embedded muscle at the light microscopic level. Traditional approaches, such as cryostat sections, permit fiber typing, but small myofibrillar lesions (1-3 sarcomeres) are difficult to detect because of section thickness. Semithin sections of hydrophobic resins do not stain well either histochemically or immunocytochemically. Electron microscopy can resolve lesions and discriminate fiber types based on morphology, but the sampling area is small. Our goal was to develop a rapid method for defining both fiber type and high-resolution primary myofibrillar lesion damage. Mild fixation (1-4% paraformaldehyde, 0. 05-0.1% glutaraldehyde) and embedment in a hydrophilic resin (LR White) were used. Myofibrillar structure was extremely well preserved at the light microscopic (LM) level, and lesions could be readily resolved in Toluidine blue stained 500-nm sections. Fiber type was defined by LM immunomyosin staining of serial plastic semithin sections, which demonstrated reciprocal staining patterns for "fast (Sigma M4276) and "total" (skeletal muscle) myosins (Sigma M7523).

Fiber types and diameters in the porcine masseter muscle. A histochemical study

Type I, I:B, II:A, and II:C fibers were identified by adenosine triphosphatase histochemistry in masseter muscles from 22 female pigs (1 year old, 70-90 kg body weight). Type II:B fibers were not found. This was in contrast to the findings of five fiber types in the porcine soleus muscles. In the porcine masseter the most prominent fiber type was II:A (75%). Type I fibers constituted 15% of the fiber types on average. Type I:B and II:C fibers were less frequent (4-6%). No significant difference was found between various biopsy locations, but there was a tendency towards more type I fibers in the deeper part of the masseter muscle. The mean fiber diameters were larger in the masseter muscles than in the soleus; however, the differences were significant only for fiber type I:B.

Different growth rates of male chicken skeletal muscles related to their histochemical properties

1. Early, M. pubo-ischio-femoralis pars medialis (PIF muscle) and late, M. iliotibialis lateralis pars postacetabularis (ITL muscle), maturing muscles were studied. These two muscles contained different populations of histochemical fibre types. 2. The profile measurements of the muscles showed diphasic allometric growth relative to the weights. In the early stage of growth (up to 15 weeks after hatching), the muscle length, width and depth all increased, while in the later stage (from 15 to 35 weeks) muscle growth resulted mainly from the marked increase in the depth and to a lesser degree, from an increase in the width. 3. Type I fibres, observed predominantly in PIF muscle matured earlier than the Type II fibres of ITL muscle. 4. From these results, the detailed process of skeletal muscle growth in the chicken was discussed.

Breed differences in the histochemical properties of the M. pubo-ischio-femoralis pars medialis myofibre of domestic cocks

1. Histochemical properties of M. pubo-ischio-femoralis pars medialis (PIF muscle) were compared in 7 breeds of cocks. This muscle was largely composed of Type I fibres and their transitional form (Type I tr). Type IIA fibres were observed in the cranial part. 2. The weight and cross-sectional area of the PIF muscle increased with increasing body weight. However, the relative muscle development to body weight differed among the 7 breeds. 3. A quarter of Type I fibres were of the transitional variety in bantam fowls. Conversely, few, if any, Type I tr fibres were observed in the large breeds where the muscle was poorly developed. 4. As the histochemical properties of Type I fibres made an effective response to the different body weights and the relative PIF muscle development among breeds, it was concluded that PIF muscle performed an important function in supporting the body weight and maintaining posture.

Architectural design, fiber-type composition, and innervation of the rat rectus abdominis muscle

The rectus abdominis muscle is architecturally compartmentalized by tendinous intersections and is supplied by multiple thoracic nerves. In this study, the rectus abdominis of the rat has been qualitatively and quantitatively examined with regard to muscle dimensions, fiber organization, fiber-type composition, and innervation. The muscle exhibits architectural heterogeneity and different patterns of innervation among its thoracic, epigastric, and hypogastric parts. The epigastric part, adherent to the rectus sheath via tendinous intersections, represents relatively simple design. It is formed by serially arranged compartments with shorter fibers, compared with the other parts. These compartments are segmentally supplied by thoracic nerves. The hypogastric part is more complex, forms an interdigitation of muscular slips, and has segmental distribution of thoracic nerves in mediolateral direction. The thoracic part much differs from the other parts. It has smaller cross-sectional areas, compartments composed of abundant nonspanning fibers with intrafascicular termination, and non-segmental distribution of thoracic nerves. In addition to these craniocaudal specializations among the three parts, the muscle exhibits mediolateral differences in fiber-type composition. Slow-twitch oxidative fibers are more densely distributed in the medial half region than the lateral, whereas fast-twitch glycolytic fibers follow an inverse pattern. The mediolateral differences in fiber-type composition as well as the craniocaudal specializations in architectural design and innervation imply regionally differentiated recruitments of the muscle in various behaviors.

An animal model for human masseter muscle: histochemical characterization of mouse, rat, rabbit, cat, dog, pig, and cow masseter muscle

The masseter muscle of several animal species was investigated by use of a histochemical method for the demonstration of acid-stable and alkali-stable myosin adenosine triphosphatase (ATPase). The following subdivisions of fiber types were used: Type I fibers show weak ATPase activity at pH 9.4, type IM fibers react moderately, and type II fibers react strongly. Rat and mouse masseter muscles contained type II fibers only, as did some rabbit masseter muscles, whereas other rabbit masseter muscles possessed equal amounts of type I and II fibers. Cat and dog masseter muscles possessed both type II and I fibers, with type II predominating. Cow masseter muscle consisted mainly of type I fibers, although some cow masseter muscles contained a very small number of type II fibers. Pig masseter muscle had both type I, II, and IM fibers. One of the characteristics of human masseter muscle is type IM fibers, which are rarely seen in muscles other than the masticatory muscles. Therefore, pig masseter muscle might be a suitable animal model for experimental studies, such as an investigation of the distribution and diameter of fiber types in the masticatory muscles before and after orthognathic surgery.

Composition of myofiber types in limb muscles of the house shrew (Suncus murinus): lack of type I myofibers

Postural muscles have many type I myofibers, which reacted strongly for acid-stable myosin ATPase and were unreactive for alkali-stable myosin ATPase (Ariano et al., J. Histochem. Cytochem., 21:51-55, 1973; Armstrong et al., Am. J. Anat., 163:87-98, 1982; Smith et al., J. Neurophysiol., 40:503-513, 1977). House shrews (Suncus murinus) keep abducting their limbs in locomotion and hardly lift their trunk off the ground. The limb muscles of Suncus were examined by histochemical methods to determine whether the locomotory and postural behavior is related to the proportion of type I myofibers. The observation of whole cross sections from the triceps surae, flexor digitorum superficialis, quadriceps femoris, and caudally situated muscles in the thigh showed that all myofibers of these muscles were unreactive for acid-stable myosin ATPase and strongly reactive for alkali-stable myosin ATPase: Those were classified as type II myofibers. Type II myofibers showed a weak (type IIB), moderate (type IIAB), or strong (type IIA) reaction for NADH tetrazolium reductase. Part of type IIA myofibers reacted weakly to moderately for menadione-linked glycerol-3-phosphate dehydrogenase (m-GPD), which predominated in the soleus muscle. Type IIAB, type IIB, and the remainder of type IIA myofibers reacted strongly for m-GPD. The limb muscles contained subtypes of type II myofibers but no type I myofibers. In Suncus murinus, type I myofibers specialized for a postural maintenance may not be required because all myofibers function exclusively for propulsion.

The influence of temperature on the distribution and intensity of the reaction product in rat muscle fibers obtained with the histochemical method for myosin ATPase

The influence of temperature in the incubation medium on the localization and intensity of myosin ATPase was investigated in striated muscles from the rat using a conventional histochemical technique. It was found that the enzyme reaction was temperature-dependent since the activity in some fibers was raised and in others was depressed by alteration of the incubation temperature. There was no obvious correlation between the temperature sensitivity of ATPase in the muscle fibers and their activity for succinic dehydrogenase. It is proposed that the histochemical method for myosin ATPase can be used for demonstration of isoenzymes in striated muscle fibers.

Determination of fiber types of chicken skeletal muscles based on reaction for actomyosin, calcium+2, magnesium+2-dependent adenosine triphosphatase

Muscle fiber subtypes, determined with the actomyosin Ca+2,Mg+2-adenosine triphosphatase (ATPase) reaction in chicken anterior latissimus dorsi and posterior latissimus dorsi muscles, were demonstrated only after acid or alkaline preincubation followed by a 60-min enzyme incubation. In contrast, subtypes were demonstrated in the sartorius muscle either with or without preincubation. A single-step procedure was therefore possible with this muscle. The results were generally similar to those obtained previously with the mycosin Ca+2-ATPase procedure. Both methods revealed corresponding muscle fiber subtypes, with the exceptions noted below. The actomyosin Ca+2,Mg+2-ATPase procedure, following preincubation at pH 9.4 and 10.3, resulted in a similar reaction intensity in all fiber types. With the myosin Ca+2-ATPase procedure, the IRA (slow) type in anterior latissimus dorsi and sartorius muscles and the I (slow), IIR (fast oxidative-glycolytic), and IIW (fast glycolytic) types in posterior latissimus dorsi muscle had a higher reaction intensity following preincubation at pH 9.4 than at pH 10.3. Fiber Types IIR and IIW in sartorius muscle were easily distinguished with the actomyosin Ca+2,Mg+2-ATPase procedure.

Myosin-ATPase fibre typing of chemically skinned muscle fibres

The efficacy of myosin (M)-ATPase fibre typing to differentiate fibre types in chemically (EGTA) skinned muscle fibres was investigated. Cryosections or single fibres from isolated bundles of chemically skinned rat extensor digitorum longus (EDL) and soleus (SOL) muscles were stained for M-ATPase activity. The results indicate that two major fibre types (type I and II, Brooke & Kaiser, 1970) can be identified, as well as subgrouping of the type II fibres into types IIa and IIb. Thus, chemically skinning muscle fibres appears to have no detrimental effects on subsequent M-ATPase fibre typing.

A successive histochemical staining for succinate dehydrogenase and "reversed"-ATPase in a single section for the skeletal muscle fibre typing

A procedure is described which simplifies the classification of skeletal muscle fibres in that it allows a simultaneous evaluation of both the oxidative capacity and the intensity of "reversed" ATPase of the fibres, and thus enables to distinguish three fibre types - SO, FOG and FG - in one tissue section. After preincubation at pH 4.1-4.2 the cryostat section is incubated for succinate dehydrogenase (SDH) and subsequently for "reversed"-ATPase. This is followed by the fixation with neutral buffered formaldehyde. The results of typing of chicken, minipig and rabbit fibres in a single muscle section stained with this technique are identical to those obtained with the usual method based on a comparison of serial sections of which one is stained for SDH activity the other for "reversed"-ATPase activity.