Architectural and histochemical analysis of the semitendinousus muscle in mice, rats, guinea pigs, and rabbits

The architectural and histochemical properties of the anatomically distinct compartments of the semitendinosus muscle (ST) of mice, rats, guinea pigs, and rabbits show that the ST is composed of two separate compartments aligned in series—a destal compartment (STd) and a proximal one (STp). The STp is further subdivided into a ventral head (STpv) and a dorsal head (STpd). The muscle fibers were arranged in parallel to the line of muscle pull within each compartment. The STd has the longest and the STpv the shortest fibers in all species. The physiological cross‐sectional area and the estimated tetanic tension was greatest in the STd. Based on the staining pattern for myosin ATPase (alkaline preincubation) and an oxidative indicator (NADH or SDH), the STpv has the highest percentage of slow‐oxidative (SO) or SO plus fast‐oxidative‐glycolytic (FOG) fibers of any portion of the muscle. The differences in fiber‐type distributions and architectural designs of the separate compartments suggest a specialization of function of the individual compartments.

[1]  B. Walmsley,et al.  Comparison of stiffness of soleus and medial gastrocnemius muscles in cats. , 1981, Journal of neurophysiology.

[2]  V. Edgerton,et al.  Metabolic profiles of three fiber types of skeletal muscle in guinea pigs and rabbits. , 1972, Biochemistry.

[3]  R. Roy,et al.  Architecture of the hind limb muscles of cats: Functional significance , 1982, Journal of morphology.

[4]  V. Edgerton,et al.  Functional significance of compensatory overloaded rat fast muscle. , 1982, Journal of applied physiology: respiratory, environmental and exercise physiology.

[5]  A. Novikoff,et al.  MITOCHONDRIAL LOCALIZATION OF OXIDATIVE ENZYMES: STAINING RESULTS WITH TWO TETRAZOLIUM SALTS , 1961, The Journal of biophysical and biochemical cytology.

[6]  J. Cabelguen,et al.  Central and reflex participation in the timing of locomotor activations of a bifunctional muscle, the semi-tendinosus, in the cat , 1976, Brain Research.

[7]  E. Henneman,et al.  RELATIONS BETWEEN STRUCTURE AND FUNCTION IN THE DESIGN OF SKELETAL MUSCLES. , 1965, Journal of neurophysiology.

[8]  I. Engberg,et al.  An electromyographic analysis of muscular activity in the hindlimb of the cat during unrestrained locomotion. , 1969, Acta physiologica Scandinavica.

[9]  Roland R. Roy,et al.  Recruitment of the proximal and distal portions of the cat semitendinosus during running and jumping , 1981 .

[10]  L. Wattenberg,et al.  EFFECTS OF COENZYME Q10 AND MENADIONE ON SUCCINIC DEHYDROGENASE ACTIVITY AS MEASURED BY TETRAZOLIUM SALT REDUCTION , 1960, The journal of histochemistry and cytochemistry : official journal of the Histochemistry Society.

[11]  M. Brooke,et al.  Muscle fiber types: how many and what kind? , 1970, Archives of neurology.

[12]  V. Edgerton,et al.  Muscle architecture of the human lower limb. , 1983, Clinical orthopaedics and related research.

[13]  G. Penso.  Mycobacterium minetti (Penso et al., 1951). , 1965, Pathologia et microbiologia.

[14]  R. Close.  Dynamic properties of mammalian skeletal muscles. , 1972, Physiological reviews.

[15]  P. Buser,et al.  Central locomotor programming in the rabbit , 1979, Brain Research.

[16]  A. Keys,et al.  Density and composition of mammalian muscle , 1960 .

[17]  V. Edgerton,et al.  Muscle architecture and force-velocity characteristics of cat soleus and medial gastrocnemius: implications for motor control. , 1980, Journal of neurophysiology.

[18]  C. R. Taylor,et al.  Distribution of fiber types in locomotory muscles of dogs. , 1982, The American journal of anatomy.

[19]  V. Edgerton,et al.  HINDLIMB MUSCLE FIBER POPULATIONS OF FIVE MAMMALS , 1973 .

[20]  Appleton Ab.  The Muscles and Nerves of the Post-axial Region of the Tetrapod Thigh: Part II , 1928 .

[21]  C. L. Jones.  The morphogenesis of the thigh of the mouse with special reference to tetrapod muscle homologies , 1979, Journal of morphology.

[22]  V R Edgerton,et al.  Contractile properties and fiber type compositions of flexors and extensors of elbow joint in cat: implications for motor control. , 1977, Journal of neurophysiology.

[23]  S. Peters,et al.  The actions of three hamstring muscles of the cat: A mechanical analysis , 1977, Journal of morphology.

[24]  T. Barka,et al.  Histochemistry : theory, practice, and bibliography , 1963 .

[25]  J. Cabelguen,et al.  Main characteristics of the hindlimb locomotor cycle in the decorticate cat with special reference to bifunctional muscles , 1980, Brain Research.

[26]  L. B. Walker,et al.  Two-joint muscles of the thigh. , 1955, The Journal of bone and joint surgery. American volume.

[27]  V R Edgerton,et al.  Architectural, histochemical, and contractile characteristics of a unique biarticular muscle: the cat semitendinosus. , 1982, Journal of neurophysiology.

[28]  B R Botterman,et al.  Distribution of monosynaptic Ia excitatory post‐synaptic potentials in the motor nucleus of the cat semitendinosus muscle. , 1983, The Journal of physiology.