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Contractile properties and ultrastructure of three types of muscle fibre in the dogfish myotome

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Summary

Three main types of fibre can be differentiated in the adult dogfish myotome at the immediate post-anal level. An outer band of muscle consists of 80–90 pale multiply innervated fibres (superficial fibres). These fibres are 80–90 μm in diameter, lack M-lines and have a low Ca2+-activated myosin ATPase activity. Volume densities of myofibrils (Vv(my,f)) and mitochondria (Vv(mt,f)) are respectively 76 and 9.5%. Beneath this layer are around 8000 red multiply innervated fibres. These have an average diameter of 25–40 μm. Vv(my,f) and Vv(mt,f) are 62 and 21% respectively, and M-lines are present. Around 11000 white focally innervated twitch fibres lie beneath the red fibre zone. White fibres with an average diameter of 80–120 μm have a high Ca2+-activated myosin ATPase activity and Vv(my,f) and Vv(mt,f) are 78 and 5% respectively.

Contractile properties of single skinned fibres were determined at 12° C. Maximum Ca2+ activated tensions (kN m−2) and unloaded contraction speeds (muscle lengths s−1) were 49 and 0.5 for superficial, 70 and 1.4 for red and 180 and 4.4 for white muscle fibres.

Superficial fibres have not been reported in other elasmobranchs with the exception of the closely related nursehound (Scyliorhinus stellaris L.) It is suggested that they are specialized for sustained force generation, having a tonic (postural) rather than a locomotor role.

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Author notes

  1. I. A. Johnston

    Present address: Department of Physiology, Gatty Marine Laboratory, University of St Andrews, KY16 8LB, Fife, UK

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Marine Biological Association, The Laboratory, PL1 2PB, Citadel Hill, Plymouth, UK

    Q. Bone, I. A. Johnston, A. Pulsford & K. P. Ryan

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Bone, Q., Johnston, I.A., Pulsford, A. et al. Contractile properties and ultrastructure of three types of muscle fibre in the dogfish myotome. J Muscle Res Cell Motil 7, 47–56 (1986). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF01756201

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