Summary
When incubated for histochemical demonstration of actomyosin ATPase both the tensor tympani and the stapedius were found to contain two types of muscle fibres, one with high actomyosin ATPase activity, indicating a high speed of contraction, and one with low actomyosin ATPase activity, indicating a low speed of contraction. In the tensor tympani 59% and 41% of the muscle fibres had a high and low ATPase activity, respectively. The corresponding numbers in the stapedius muscle were 82% and 18%. These findings are discussed with reference to previous physiological and morphological studies.
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Teig, E., Dahl, H.A. Actomyosin ATPase activity of middle ear muscles in the cat. Histochemie 29, 1–7 (1972). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00305695
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00305695