Histochemical staining characteristics of normal horse skeletal muscle.
Abstract: The histologic and histochemical staining characteristics of the triceps brachii (long head), extensor carpi radialis, gluteus medius, vastus lateralis, biceps femoris, semimembranosus, semitendinosus, and extensor digitorum longus muscles of 8 Thoroughbreds, 2 Quarter Horses, 1 Arabian, 1 Paso Fino, and 1 Shetland Pony are described. Muscle fiber morphology, staining distribution and intensity, amount of IM connective tissue, number of IM blood vessels and IM nerves, calcium-activated adenosine triphosphatase activity (CaATPase), percentage of fibertype population, percentage of relative fibertype area, mean fiber diameter, nonspecific esterase activity, alkaline phosphatase activity, and acid phosphatase activity were evaluated, using 10 common histochemical and histologic stains. Two fiber types (I, II) and 3 subtypes (IIA, IIB, IIC) were observed, using CaATPase-, nicotinamide-adenine dinucleotide-tetrazolium reductase-, periodic acid-Schiff hematoxylin-, and nonspecific esterase-stained frozen serial muscle sections. Type I muscle fibers in general had low CaATPase activity, high oxidative capacity, low glycogen capacity, and low esterase activity. Type IIA muscle fibers had high CaATPase activity, intermediate oxidative capacity, high glycogen concentration, and high esterase activity. Type IIB fibers had high CaATPase activity, low oxidative capacity, high glycogen concentration, and a high esterase activity. Type IIC muscle fibers had high CaATPase activity, high oxidative capacity, variable glycogen concentration, and high esterase activity. Type II (IIA and IIB) muscle fibers predominated in the muscles. The percentage of muscle fiber population, mean minimal muscle fiber diameter, and percentage of relative muscle fiber area were determined for each sampled muscle. Type IIA and IIB muscle fibers predominated in the percentage of muscle fiber population and percentage of relative muscle fiber area. Type IIB muscle fibers had the greatest minimal fiber diameter, type IIA muscle fibers had intermediate minimal fiber diameter, and type I muscle fibers had the smallest minimal fiber diameter. The percentage of relative muscle fiber area was less variable (P less than or equal to 0.05) than the percentage of muscle fiber population. Mean muscle fiber diameter did not significantly differ between breeds. Alkaline and acid phosphatase activities were at low levels in all muscles biopsied and were limited to the IM connective tissue fibrocytes, macrophages, and capillaries.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 400 WORDS)
Publication Date: 1986-08-01 PubMed ID: 3752694
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- Comparative Study
- Journal Article
Summary
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The research explores the skeletal muscle anatomy of various breeds of horses through histochemical staining, examining characteristics such as muscle fiber morphology, tissue properties, and enzyme activities.
Context and Objective
- The study is a comprehensive investigation into the histochemical staining characteristics of the skeletal muscles in different breeds of horses. The researchers assessed eight distinct muscles in 13 horses from five breeds.
- The aim of the study was to provide a detailed description of the muscle fiber morphology, distribution and intensity of staining, intra-muscular (IM) connective tissue quantity, the number of IM blood vessels and nerves, and certain biochemical activities within the muscles.
Methodology
- 10 standard histochemical and histologic stains were used in the study to evaluate the characteristics of the horse muscles.
- The muscle fibers were classified into two basic types (I, II) and three subtypes (IIA, IIB, IIC) depending on the chemical staining properties of the sections using calcium-activated adenosine triphosphatase (CaATPase), nicotinamide-adenine dinucleotide-tetrazolium reductase, periodic acid-Schiff hematoxylin, and nonspecific esterase.
Findings
- The research found distinct characteristics associated with each type and subtype of muscle fiber. Type I fibers generally exhibited low CaATPase activity, high oxidative capacity, low glycogen capacity, and low esterase activity, whereas Type II fibers (IIA and IIB) mainly showed high CaATPase activity, along with variable oxidative and glycogen capacities.
- Moreover, the study discovered that the Type II fibers (IIA and IIB) were dominant in the muscles studied, both in terms of their population and the relative area they occupied.
- The muscle fibers varied in diameter. Type IIB fibers had the largest diameter, while type I fibers had the smallest.
- Notably, there were no significant differences in terms of mean muscle fiber diameter across different horse breeds.
- The activities of alkaline and acid phosphatases were low in the muscles across all horse breeds examined. These activities were mostly limited to the IM connective tissue fibrocytes, macrophages, and capillaries.
Implications
- This research presents a comprehensive histochemical characterisation of horse skeletal muscles, identifying different muscle types and their properties which may help in the understanding of horse muscle physiology and pathology.
- The findings also establish a baseline for further research, possibly aiding in the development of treatments or enhancing performance in equine athletics.
Cite This Article
APA
Andrews FM, Spurgeon TL.
(1986).
Histochemical staining characteristics of normal horse skeletal muscle.
Am J Vet Res, 47(8), 1843-1852.
Publication
Researcher Affiliations
MeSH Terms
- Animals
- Atrophy
- Female
- Horses / anatomy & histology
- Male
- Muscles / cytology
- Muscles / pathology
- Orchiectomy
- Ovariectomy
- Species Specificity
Citations
This article has been cited 4 times.- Bal NC, Periasamy M. Uncoupling of sarcoendoplasmic reticulum calcium ATPase pump activity by sarcolipin as the basis for muscle non-shivering thermogenesis. Philos Trans R Soc Lond B Biol Sci 2020 Mar 2;375(1793):20190135.
- White SH, Warren LK, Li C, Wohlgemuth SE. Submaximal exercise training improves mitochondrial efficiency in the gluteus medius but not in the triceps brachii of young equine athletes. Sci Rep 2017 Oct 30;7(1):14389.
- Brown NA, Pandy MG, Kawcak CE, McIlwraith CW. Force- and moment-generating capacities of muscles in the distal forelimb of the horse. J Anat 2003 Jul;203(1):101-13.
- Spurway NC, Murray MG, Gilmour WH, Montgomery I. Quantitative skeletal muscle histochemistry of four east African ruminants. J Anat 1996 Apr;188 ( Pt 2)(Pt 2):455-72.
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