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Histochemical and biochemical properties of flight muscle fibers in the little brown bat,Myotis lucifugus

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Summary

The purpose of this investigation was (1) to determine the fiber composition of pectoralis muscle of the little brown bat,Myotis lucifugus; (2) to compare the fiber composition of this muscle with two of the animal's accessory flight muscles; and (3) to study the effect of hibernation on pectoralis muscle fiber composition. Bat skeletal muscle fibers were also compared with those of white laboratory rats (Rattus norvegicus). Bat pectoralis muscles possessed exceptionally high oxidative capacities as indicated by their succinate dehydrogenase activities, but relatively low glycolytic potentials (phosphofructokinase activities). Muscle histochemistry demonstrated that fiber composition of bat pectorlis muscle was homogeneous; all fibers possessed high aerobic and low glycolytic potentials, and high myofibrillar ATPase activities indicating fast contractile properties. In contrast, accessory flight muscles possessed three distinguishable fiber types. During hibernation there was a significant decline in oxidative potential, no change in glycolytic potential, and no alteration in basic fiber composition of bat pectoralis muscle. The findings of this study suggest that pectoralis muscles ofM. lucifugus may approach the ultimate adaptation of a mammalian locomotory muscle for aerobic generation of muscular power.

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Abbreviations

FG:

fast-twich glycolytic

FOG:

fast-twitch-oxydative-glycolytic

α-GPDH:

α-glycerophosphate dehydrogenase

LDH:

lactate dehydrogenase

NADH-D:

reduced nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide diaphorase

PFK:

phosphofructokinase

SDH:

succinate dehydrogenase

SO:

slowtwich-oxidative

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Author notes

  1. C. D. Ianuzzo

    Present address: Biology Department, York University, Downsview, Ontario, Canada

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Departments of Biology and Health Sciences, Boston University, 02215, Boston, Massachusetts, USA

    R. B. Armstrong, C. D. Ianuzzo & T. H. Kunz

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  2. C. D. Ianuzzo
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  3. T. H. Kunz
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Armstrong, R.B., Ianuzzo, C.D. & Kunz, T.H. Histochemical and biochemical properties of flight muscle fibers in the little brown bat,Myotis lucifugus . J Comp Physiol B 119, 141–154 (1977). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00686562

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00686562

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