HOME HELP FEEDBACK SUBSCRIPTIONS ARCHIVE SEARCH TABLE OF CONTENTS		QUICK SEARCH:   [advanced] Author: Keyword(s): Year:  Vol:  Page:

This Article Full Text (PDF) Alert me when this article is cited Alert me if a correction is posted Services Similar articles in this journal Similar articles in PubMed Alert me to new issues of the journal Download to citation manager Citing Articles Citing Articles via HighWire Citing Articles via Google Scholar Google Scholar Articles by Ashmore, C. R. Articles by Doerr, L. Search for Related Content PubMed PubMed Citation Articles by Ashmore, C. R. Articles by Doerr, L.

Postnatal Development of Muscle Fiber Types in Domestic Animals¹

University of California, Davis ^,3 95616

Abstract

Histochemical evaluation of muscles from piglets, lambs and calves allows the conclusion that in these species, as was previously reported for chick muscle (Ashmore and Doerr, 1971), there are two basic muscle fiber types. These have been termed a and ß based on myosin ATPase activity. Initially, a fibers are "red", but have the capacity to transform from an aerobic state of metabolism (aR) to an anerobic state (aW). ß fibers remain "red" throughout their lifespan. Transformation is primarily concerned with changes in energy-producing enzymes, and is accompanied by a rapid increase in fiber size. The majority of muscle fibers are a. Since the number of fibers in a muscle is relatively fixed at birth, it is suggested that increasing degree of muscularity in domestic animals is achieved by practices which favor transformation of aR fibers to aW fibers. Selection of heavily muscled animals for breeding stock, and progressive elimination of requirements which utilize sustained muscular activity could be examples of such practices.

¹ Supported in part by Public Health Service Grant FR-06138, HSAA and by Critical Research Fund, Agr. Exp. Sta., Univ. of Calif.

² Postdoctoral Trainee, Public Health Service Grant FR-06138, HSAA.

³ Laboratory of Muscle Biology. Department of Animal Science. Technical assistance of H. Stokes and W. Castleman are gratefully acknowledged.

This article has been cited by other articles:

				K. Wimmers, N. T. Ngu, D. G. J. Jennen, D. Tesfaye, E. Murani, K. Schellander, and S. Ponsuksili Relationship between myosin heavy chain isoform expression and muscling in several diverse pig breeds J Anim Sci, April 1, 2008; 86(4): 795 - 803. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]