Histochemical profiles of rat soleus intrafusal fibres after chronic exercise.

Intrafusal fibres from the rat soleus were investigated for representative histochemical profiles in sedentary animals and animals chronically exercised for 17 weeks on a treadmill. The pattern of myosin adenosine triphosphatase (ATPase) activity in the polar region revealed three intrafusal fibre types: (1) myosin ATPase-dark (MD) fibres, alkali- and acid-stabile; (2) myosin ATPase-light (ML) fibres, alkali- and acid-labile; and (3) myosin ATPase-reversible (MR) fibres, alkali-stabile and acid-labile. The three fibre types were correlated with the level of reduced NADH diaphorase activity, with MR, ML and MD fibres staining dark, moderate and light, respectively. In the equatorial region the morphological features of representative ML and MD fibres revealed that they were nuclear bag fibres, while representative MR fibres were identified as nuclear chain fibres. The MR fibres in the exercised animals had higher levels of myosin ATPase alkaline stability and acid lability than MR fibres in the sedentary animals, suggesting the MR fibre profiles are selectively influenced by chronic exercise. The mean cross-sectional area of MR fibres from the exercised animals was significantly less than the MR fibres from the sedentary animals. In contrast to the effect of endurance training on NADH diaphorase activity in extrafusal muscle fibres, there was evidence of less activity in the MD fibres of the exercised animals.     

Histochemical heterogeneity of intrafusal muscle fibres in slow and fast skeletal muscles of the rat

Summary Intrafusal muscle fibres of the slow soleus (Sol) and fast vastus lateralis (VL) muscles of the rat were studied histochemically. Serial transverse sections were incubated for the localization of succinate dehydrogenase (SDH), alpha glycerophosphate dehydrogenase (GPD) and adenosine triphosphatase (ATPase). The latter was examined further after preincubation in acidic solution held at either low or room temperature (R_T). The bag₂ intrafusal fibres in both muscles displayed high regular and acid stable ATPase, but low SDH and GPD activities. Bag₁ intrafusal fibres showed low to moderate regular ATPase, a regional heterogeneity after R_T acid preincubation (low activity in juxtaequatorial and high in polar zones), moderate SDH, but low GPD reactions. In both muscles the chain fibres usually exhibited high ATPase for both regular and cold acid preincubated reactions, but usually low activity after R_T acid preincubation; they had high SDH but variable GPD activities. In Sol muscle, however, approximately 25% of spindles contained chain fibres that showed high acid-stable ATPase reaction after both cold and R_T acid preincubation. In contrast, chain fibres in some VL spindles had a characteristically low ATPase reaction even after cold acid preincubation. This study, therefore, has delineated the existence of an inherent heterogeneity among chain fibres (with respect to their histochemical reactions) in muscle spindles located within slow and fast muscles and also between those found within populations of either Sol or VL muscle spindles.     

Histochemical profiles of cat intrafusal muscle fibers and their motor innervation

Summary Muscle spindles were examined histochemically in serial transverse sections of cat tenuissimus muscles. The myofibrillar adenosine triphosphatase (ATPase) staining reaction was used to identify nuclear bag₁, bag₂ and nuclear chain intrafusal muscle fibers. Regional differences in ATPase staining occurred along the bag₁ and bag₂ fibers but not along the chain fibers. All intrafusal fiber types displayed regional variability in staining for nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide tetrazolium reductase (NADH-TR). Motor nerve terminals were demonstrated along the poles of bag₁, bag₂ and chain fibers by staining for cholinesterase (ChE). There was no consistent spatial correlation between the intensity of regional ATPase staining along the bag fibers and location, number or type of motor endings. However, most ChE deposits occurred in intrafusal fiber regions that displayed the greatest NADH-TR variability. Some fiber poles or whole intrafusal fibers were devoid of any ChE deposits but their ATPase and NADH-TR content was comparable to that of fibers bearing ChE deposits. The observations suggested that motor nerve fibers per se may not play a major role in determining the histoenzymatic content of intrafusal fibers.     

Histochemical profiles of cat intrafusal muscle fibers and their motor innervation

Muscle spindles were examined histochemically in serial transverse sections of cat tenuissimus muscles. The myofibrillar adenosine triphosphatase (ATPase) staining reaction was used to identify nuclear bag1, bag2 and nuclear chain intrafusal muscle fibers. Regional differences in ATPase staining occurred along the bag1 and bag2 fibers but not along the chain fibers. All intrafusal fiber types displayed regional variability in staining for nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide tetrazolium reductase (NADH-TR). Motor nerve terminals were demonstrated along the poles of bag1, bag2 and chain fibers by staining for cholinesterase (ChE). There was no consistent spatial correlation between the intensity of regional ATPase staining along the bag fibers and location, number or type of motor endings. However, most ChE deposits occurred in intrafusal fiber regions that displayed the greatest NADH-TR variability. Some fiber poles or whole intrafusal fibers were devoid of any ChE deposits but their ATPase and NADH-TR content was comparable to that of fibers bearing ChE deposits. The observations suggested that motor nerve fibers per se may not play a major role in determining the histoenzymatic content of intrafusal fibers.     

Expression of myosin heavy chain (MyHC) isoforms in rat intrafusal muscle fibres after neonatal deefferentation and subsequent denervation

The analysis of developing intrafusal fibres is not feasible in the absence of primary sensory axons, as neonatal denervation leads to the disintegration of muscle spindles. On the other hand, neonatal deefferentation does not arrest their differentiation and, moreover, it leads to the neomyogenesis of supernumerary intrafusal profiles. If the sciatic nerve was sectioned in 4-week-old rats deefferented at the birth, muscle spindles survived, the neomyogenesis proceeded and the denervated intrafusal fibres expressed the spindle specific slow tonic (STO) MyHC. The expression of MyHC pattern in individual fibres and the differentiation of the fibre type characteristics were, however, less obvious compared to the control or deefferented spindles. The newly formed intrafusal profiles (which differentiated from satellite cells in the absence of innervation) expressed the STO MyHC particularly when they developed in a spatial relation to nuclear bag fibres.     

Development of immunohistochemical characteristics of intrafusal fibres in normal and de-efferented rat muscle spindles

Summary Intrafusal muscle fibres in adult muscle spindles differ in their myosin composition. After selective motor denervation intrafusal muscle fibres develop mature ultrastructural characteristics. In order to evaluate the role of fusimotor innervation on the maturation of the myosin composition of intrafusal muscle fibres we have examined with immunohistochemical techniques i) the postnatal development of muscle spindles in new-born rats and in 7–21 day old rats; ii) muscle spindles in the EDL of 21-day-old rats de-efferented at birth. For the characterization of myosins in intrafusal fibres we used three myosin antisera: antipectoral myosin, antiheart myosin and antiheart myosin adsorbed with muscle powder from the soleus muscle of guinea pig. We show in this study that during development intrafusal fibres change immunoreactivity and that in the absence of motor innervation bag fibres do not fully develop the myosin characteristics of control spindles. We conclude that the maturation of bag₁ and bag₂ fibres apparently requires next to the inductive influence of sensory axon terminals the presence and activity of fusimotor axons.     

Development of immunohistochemical characteristics of intrafusal fibres in normal and de-efferented rat muscle spindles

Intrafusal muscle fibres in adult muscle spindles differ in their myosin composition. After selective motor denervation intrafusal muscle fibres develop mature ultrastructural characteristics. In order to evaluate the role of fusimotor innervation on the maturation of the myosin composition of intrafusal muscle fibres we have examined with immunohistochemical techniques i) the postnatal development of muscle spindles in new-born rats and in 7-21 day old rats; ii) muscle spindles in the EDL of 21-day-old rats de-efferented at birth. For the characterization of myosins in intrafusal fibres we used three myosin antisera: antipectoral myosin, antiheart myosin and antiheart myosin adsorbed with muscle powder from the soleus muscle of guinea pig. We show in this study that during development intrafusal fibres change immunoreactivity and that in the absence of motor innervation bag fibres do not fully develop the myosin characteristics of control spindles. We conclude that the maturation of bag1 and bag2 fibres apparently requires next to the inductive influence of sensory axon terminals the presence and activity of fusimotor axons.     

Tissue distribution, developmental profiles and effect of denervation of enolase isozymes in rat muscles

The tissue distribution of muscle-type alpha beta and beta beta enolases in rats were determined with the sandwich-type enzyme immunoassay method which utilized the purified antibodies specific to the alpha and to the beta subunit of enolase, and beta-D-galactosidase from Escherichia coli as label. All the tissues examined contained detectable levels of both alpha beta and beta beta enolases. The beta beta enolase was found at high levels in the skeletal muscle tissues (tongue, esophagus, diaphragm and leg muscles) and in the cartilages (xipoid process and auricular cartilage). The alpha beta enolase was distributed at a relatively high concentration in the heart and in the above-mentioned tissues. The beta beta enolase in the leg muscles, diaphragm and tongue was present on the day of birth at a concentration higher than that of the alpha alpha and alpha beta enolases, and its concentration further increased in a manner apparently related to the functional state of each tissue. Denervation of the leg muscles by cutting the sciatic nerve in adult rats resulted in a drastic change in the isozymes profile. The concentration of beta beta enolase in the tibialis anterior gastrocnemius lateralis and extensor digitorum longus (about 800 pmol/mg protein) decreased to about a half in a few weeks after denervation. In contrast, the concentrations of alpha alpha (2 pmol/mg) and alpha beta (80 pmol/mg) usually showed a slight increase by the treatment (alpha alpha, 7 pmol/mg; alpha beta, 100 pmol/mg after 2 weeks). As compared with these three muscles, the soleus had normally a low enolase level and the effect of denervation was less drastic. These results seem to suggest that the concentration of beta beta enolase is closely correlated with the functional state of the muscle tissue.     

Enzyme histochemical alterations in human skeletal muscles after tenotomy and after spontaneous rupture of the tendon.

The authors studied the histochemical alterations of human skeletal muscles after tenotomy and after spontaneous rupture of the tendon. Both succinate dehydrogenase (in type I fibers), and myofibrillar ATP-ase (in type 2 fibers) activity was decreased in all injured muscles. In the intact antagonists and contralateral muscles alterations were not found. The creatine phosphokinase and aldolase activity were decreased also in injured muscles. The lactate dehydrogenase activity was various both in affected and in unaffected muscles. Two weeks or more after the injury of the tendon in injured muscles the number of type 1 fibers were decreased and therefore a mathematically significant type 2 fibre predominance occurred. Atrophy involve both type 1 and type 2 fibers, but type 1 fibre atrophy was more pronunced as type 2 fibre atrophy.     

Histochemical fiber type distribution and epinephrine sensitivity in normal and cross-transplanted rat muscles

The metabolic integrity of fully regenerated transplants was investigated by measuring induced changes in glycogen concentration. The extensor digitorum longus and the soleus muscles were cross transplanted: the extensor digitorum longus into the soleus muscle bed (SOLT) and the soleus muscle into the extensor digitorum longus bed (EDLT). The histochemical fiber type distribution of the regenerated muscles was determined and was found to transform in cross-transplanted EDLT and SOLT. After transplantation and regeneration, both muscles had initially low glycogen concentrations. However, the EDLT glycogen concentration was not significantly different from that of the contralateral extensor digitorum longus control muscle after 60 days. In the SOLT, glycogen gradually increased but remained less than in the contralateral soleus control muscle. SOLT and control soleus muscles responded with a significant glycogen depletion to an epinephrine dose two orders of magnitude less than the lowest dose affecting glycogen levels in EDLT and extensor digitorum longus muscles. These results indicate that transplanted muscles are capable of regenerating normal glycogenolytic responses and that the sensitivity of the response observed depends on the site of transplantation and is related to the type of innervation and histochemical fiber type.     

Histochemical profiles of motoneurons innervating muscle fibres with different activity patterns in the zebrafish, Brachydanio rerio.

Summary Enzyme histochemical profiles of spinal motoneurons in the zebrafish were determined. Five enzymes of glucose metabolism were chosen: glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase (G6PDH), hexokinase (HK), phosphofructokinase (PFK), succinate dehydrogenase (SDH) and NADH tetrazolium reductase (NADH-TR). Motoneurons were traced with Fluorogold and classified as those that innervate white muscle fibres (W-MNs) and those that innervate red and intermediate muscle fibres (R/ I-MNs). The average enzyme activities per volume of tissue in the somata of both populations differed at most by 25%. Both the average soma volume and the average number of muscle fibres innervated are three times larger for the W-MNs than for the a/I-MNs. This suggests that the total amount of enzyme activity within a neuron soma matches target size.In the R/I-MNs, the activities of SDH and NADH-TR were closely correlated (correlation coefficient, r=0.99;p<0.05) and HK activity correlated well with G6PDH activity (r=0.94;p<0.05), butnot with PFK (r=0.64;p>0.05). In the W-MNs, there was no correlation between SDH and NADH-TR (r=–0.59;p>0.05) or between HK and G6PDH (r=0.50;p>0.05) and the correlation coefficient between HK and PFK activity was close to zero (r=0.04;p>0.05).It was concluded that in the R/I-MNs gwhich are continuously ctive, firing activity is fuelled by oxidative metabolsm. We suggest that in the W-MNs glucose is stored in the form of glycogen and that, despite high levels of NADH-TR present, the energy for intermittent firing activity is provided by glycolysis.