A histochemical and ultrastructural study of the development of the propulsive musculature of the brown trout, Salmo trutta L., in relation to its swimming behaviour

The differentiation of the myotomal muscle types in the propulsive musculature of Salmo trutta has been investigated histochemically and ultrastructurally from late embryonic to free-swimming fish at 5° months post fertilisation and related to observed changes in swimming behaviour. A histochemical and ultrastructural characterisation was also made of the major myotomal muscle fibre types in fingerling and yearling S. trutta . Two distinct populations of muscle cell types can be recognised prior to hatching. The early development of the white fibre population is related to the short, burst-type swimming activity at early stages. The later increase in the development of the red fibre population is directly related to the appearance of sustained swimming activity. The swimming performance of freeswimming alevins has been investigated and the results are discussed in comparison to adult fish.     

Energy metabolism of carp swimming muscles

Summary Electromyography has been used to study the recruitment of red, pink and white muscle fibres of the Mirror carp at different swimming speeds. Locomotion below 0.3–0.5 L/S (lengths per second) is achieved primarily by fin movements after which the red myotomal muscle becomes active. Pink muscle fibres are the next type to be recruited at speeds around 1.1–1.5 L/S. White muscle is only used for fast cruising in excess of 2–2.5 L/S and during bursts of acceleration.Studies of the myofibrillar ATPase activities of these muscles have shown a ratio of 124 for the red, pink and white fibres respectively. The myosin low molecular weight components, which are characteristic of the myosin phenotype, have been investigated by SDS polyacrylamide electrophoresis. The light chain patterns of the pink and white muscles were identical and characteristic of the fast myosin phenotype. Red muscle myosin had a light chain pattern characteristic of slow muscles. It would appear that there is a relationship between the speed of contraction of the fibre types and the locomotory speed at which they are recruited.The activities of some enzymes of energy metabolism have also been determined in the three muscle types. Enzymes associated with oxidate metabolism have high, intermediate and low activities in the red, pink and white muscles respectively. Pyruvate kinase and lactate dehydrogenase activities were considerably higher in the pink than in either red or white muscles. It is suggested that the high capacity for anaerobic glycolysis of the pink muscle is associated with its recruitment for sustained effort at swimming speeds above which the fish can no longer meet all its energy requirements by gas exchange at the gills.Abbreviations used EDTA ethylenediamine tetraacetic acid - L/S lengths, sec^–1 - LDH Lactate dehydrogenase - PFK phosphofructokinase - SDS sodium dodecyl sulphate - TCA trichloroacetic acid     

Modelling swimming activities and energetic costs in European sea bass (Dicentrarchus labrax L., 1758) during critical swimming tests

Muscular activity patterns in red and white muscles linked to oxygen consumption were studied during critical swimming tests in the sea bass (Dicentrarchus labrax Linnaeus 1758). The species is one of the most important for Mediterranean Sea aquaculture. A sigmoid model was used to fit both the oxygen consumption and red muscle activity while the white muscle activity pattern was described by an exponential model. Red muscle reaches an activation plateau close to critical swimming speed mostly due to the oxygen diffusion velocity in tissues. The exponential activation of white muscle appears to be linked to short and sudden periods of great energy need to cope with adverse conditions such as predation and escape. Both oxygen consumption and muscular activity were found to be size dependent. The bioenergetics of sea bass was modelled based on fish mass and swimming speed to predict the minimum and maximum speed as well as the mass-specific active metabolic rate and standard metabolic rate. An important finding was that contrary to other well-known species, swimming at subcritical speeds in sea bass involves both red and white muscle in different proportions.     

Postexercise physiology and repeat performance behaviour of free-swimming smallmouth bass in an experimental raceway

We studied postexercise physiology and behaviour of smallmouth bass (Micropterus dolomieu) that voluntarily ascended experimental raceways of varying length (20-50 m) against water velocities ranging from 8 to 120 cm/s. Our first objective was to link mean swimming speed to metabolism using patterns in postexercise muscle glycogen, muscle lactate, and plasma lactate. Our second objective was to examine several behavioural indices (attempt rate, success rate, and recovery time between an ascent and a subsequent attempt) and determine whether patterns in these data reflected those from the physiological measurements. Postexercise muscle glycogen and plasma lactate data suggest that smallmouth bass powered swimming speeds up to 70-80 cm/s using energy from aerobic processes. However, lactate did not begin to accumulate in the white muscle until speeds in excess of 120-130 cm/s were reached. The behavioural parameters measured did not indicate the presence of a physiological threshold at 70-80 cm/s; however, patterns in all factors changed appreciably when fish maintained speeds in excess of 120-130 cm/s. Therefore, it is clear that behaviour and physiology are tightly linked in this species and that maximum aerobic swimming capacity may not limit performance (or re-performance) during short-duration swims.     

A histochemical study of the lateral muscles of five teleost species

A qualitative histochemical study has been made of the myotomal muscles of five teleost fish (glass fish, Chanda ranga; carp, Carassius carassius; coalfish, Gadus virens; black mollie, Molliensia sp. and grey mullet, Mugil cephalus ) . Three or four main fibre types were distinguished in these species on the basis of the distribution and relative activities of glycogen, lipid, aglycerophosphate dehydrogenase, phosphorylase, and succinic dehydrogenase. The so-called red and white fibre types were found to have similar histochemical properties to previously investigated species. All the species studied, with the exception of the glass fish, Chanda ranga , were found to have one or two types of pink fibre situated between the red and white fibre regions. In the carp, coalfish and mullet, the pink fibres were found to be composed of small and large diameter fibres which were similar to red and white fibres respectively, except for their staining for succinic dehydrogenase. Considerable differences were found in the relative amounts of pink muscles between species. Minor fibre components were found in several species. These consisted of very small diameter fibres which did not stain well with any of the histochemical procedures used. It is suggested that these fibres represent areas of continuing muscle growth. The results obtained are discussed in relation to the division of labour between myotomal muscles during swimming.     

Red and white muscle fibre activity in swimming skipjack tuna, Katsuwonus pelamis (L.)

To test the hypothesis that white muscle fibre portions of the myotomes are used at sustainable swimming speeds, skipjack tuna, Katsuwonus pelamis , were forced to swim against various current velocities in a water tunnel while electrical activity of the red and white muscle fibres was simultaneously recorded. Eight fish were tested, five fish graded white muscle fibres into activity at swimming speeds above their minimum hydrostatic equilibrium speed, but well below the estimated maximum sustainable swimming speed of skipjack tuna. Three other fish showed white muscle fibre activity at minimum swimming speeds, a possibly abnormal condition.     

Power isn't everything: muscle function and energetic costs during steady swimming in Atlantic cod (Gadus morhua)

Power produced by red myotomal muscles of fish during cruise swimming appears seldom maximized, so we sought to investigate whether economy may impact or dominate muscle function. We measured cost of transport (COT) using oxygen consumption and the strain trajectories and electromyographic activity of red muscle measured at anterior (ANT) and posterior (POST) locations while Atlantic cod (Gadus morhua) swam steadily at speeds between 0.3 and 1.0 body lengths (BL) s(-1). We then measured the power produced by isolated segments of red muscle when activated either as in the swimming cod or such that maximal net power was produced. Patterns of activation during swimming were not optimal for power output and were highly variable between tail beats, particularly at the ANT location and at slow swim speeds. Muscle strain amplitude did not increase until swimming speed reached 0.9 (ANT) versus 0.5 (POST) BL s(-1). These limited power to only 53% (ANT) and 71% (POST) of maximum at slower swim speeds and to 70%-80% of maximum at high swim speeds. COT (resting metabolism subtracted) was minimal at the slowest swim speed, surprisingly, where power was most impaired by activation and strain. Thus, production of powered forces for maneuverability/stability appeared to greatly impact red muscle function during cruise swimming in cod, particularly at slow speeds and in ANT muscle.     

Quantitative distribution of muscle fiber types in the scup Stenotomus chrysops

Because the mass-specific power generated by myotomal muscle during swimming varies along the length of the fish, a realistic assessment of total power generation by the musculature requires integrating the product of mass-specific power and muscle mass at each position over the length of the fish. As a first step toward this goal, we examined the distribution of red, pink, and white muscle along the length of Stenotomus chrysops (scup) using histochemical and image analysis techniques. The largest cross-sectional area of red fibers occurs at 60% of total fish length and declines both anteriorly and posteriorly. By contrast, white fibers have the largest cross-sectional area in the anterior and decline dramatically moving posteriorly. The proportion of the fishes' cross-section occupied by red fibers increases from 1.37% to 8.42% moving posteriorly along the length of the fish. In contrast, the proportion of cross-sectional area occupied by pink fibers is constant (1.19%), while the proportional cross-sectional area of white fibers falls from 82.5% to 66.3%. The red, pink, and white fibers comprise 2.09, 0.73, and 51.1%, respectively, of total fish weight. We also compared the distribution of muscle in 10°C-and 200°C-acclimated animals. The value for red fiber volume, though slightly higher (13%) in cold-acclimated fish, is not statistically different. No difference was found in pink or white fibers. Finally, the finding that most of the red muscle is in the posterior half of the fish further supports the notion that most power for steady swimming at moderate speeds comes from posterior rather than anterior musculature. © 1996 Wiley-Liss, Inc.     

Histochemical fibre types in the lateral muscle of fishes in fresh, brackish and salt water

The histochemical pattern of red, pink and white muscle of fish living in fresh, brackish, and salt water is reported. The muscle fibres were stained routinely during the year for lactate dehydrogenase (LDH), menadione α-glycerophosphate dehydrogenase (Mα—GPDH), succinic dehydrogenase (SDH), myosin adenosine triphosphatase (myosin ATPase), phosphorylase, lipids and glycogen. The pink and red muscles contain more glycogen and lipids and have a higher SDH activity, which is in accord with their aerobic metabolism and function in sustained swimming activity. The acid labile myosin ATPase activity characteristic of fast twitch fibres is present in the white fibres of most species, however in the white muscle of Gobius paganellus the enzyme activity is stable to both acid and alkali and, in addition, there is a scattered distribution of different fibre types in red and, especially, pink muscle. A study of seasonal variation patterns of myosin ATPase in white muscle of mugilidae over a period of two years has demonstrated, in late summer, the appearance of new small diameter fibres, with a high acid stable enzyme activity, that develop into the large diameter acid labile fibres.     

Fibre types in the locomotory muscles of an antarctic teleost,Notothenia rossii

Summary The metabolic and structural differentiation of locomotory muscles of Notothenia rossii has been investigated. In this species sustained locomotion is achieved by sculling with enlarged pectoral fins (labriform locomotion), whilst the segmental myotomal muscle is reserved for burst activity. Red, white and subepidermal fibres can be distinguished in the trunk by histochemical and ultrastructural criteria. The main pectoral muscle (m. adductor profundus) consists entirely of red fibres. These three main fibres types show differences in histochemical staining profiles, capillarization, myofibril shape and packing, and lipid and mitochondrial content. The fractional volume of mitochondria amounts to 38% for pectoral, 30% for red myotomal and 1.9% for white myotomal fibres. Enzyme activities of red pectoral muscle are consistent with a higher potential for aerobic glucose and fatty acid oxidation than for the red myotomal fibres. Mg²⁺ Ca²⁺ -myofibrillar ATPase activities are similar for red pectoral and myotomal muscles and approximately half of those white fibres. Specialisations of N. rossii muscles associated with labriform swimming and locomotion at Antarctic temperatures are discussed.     

Mutually exclusive muscle designs: the power output of the locomotory and sonic muscles of the oyster toadfish (Opsanus tau)

Animals perform a vast array of motor activities. Although it has generally been accepted that muscles are well suited to the function that they must perform, specialization for performing one function may compromise their ability for carrying out another. We examined this principle in the toadfish muscular system: slow-twitch red and fast-twitch white myotomal muscles are used for powering swimming at relatively low frequencies, while the superfast swimbladder muscle powers mating calls by contracting at 100 Hz. We measured muscle power output over a wide range of frequencies. The red and white locomotory muscles could not generate power over ca. 2.2 and 12 Hz, respectively and, hence, could not power sound production. In contrast, the swimbladder muscle has many specializations that permit it to generate power at frequencies in excess of 100 Hz. However, these specializations drastically reduce its power output at low frequencies: the swimbladder muscle generated only one-twentieth of the power of the red muscle and one-seventh of the power of the white muscle at the frequencies used during swimming. To generate the same total power needed for swimming would require unfeasibly large amounts of swimbladder muscle that could not fit into the fish. Hence, the designs of the swimbladder and locomotory muscles are mutually exclusive.     

Sustained swimming speeds and myotomal muscle function in the trout, Salmo gairdneri

Rainbow trout were trained for 3–4 weeks in a flume at swimming speeds of 1, 2 and 3 l s⁻¹. For each experiment growth rates were estimated and by measuring the hypertrophy of red and mosaic skeletal muscle fibres their function was described at particular swimming speeds and compared with earlier experiments on coalfish using the same technique.
Maximum growth, compared with controls in still water, occurred at swimming speeds of 1 l s⁻¹. At this speed the trout mosaic muscle fibres hypertrophied by 40% but the red muscle fibres showed only a 25% hypertrophy. It is suggested that natural swimming speeds are close to 1Ls^−l and the trout mosaic fibres are better adapted for use at this speed in comparison with coalfish white muscle fibres.     

A comparative study of glycolysis in red and white muscles of the trout (Salmo gairdneri) and mirror carp (Cyprinus carpio)

The activities of some glycolytic and associated enzymes have been determined in the muscles of trout and carp to investigate the possibility that the discrepancies previously reported between lactate accumulation and anoxic tolerance in these two fish result from underlying differences in glycolytic potential. Steady state concentrations of certain glycolytic intermediates were also determined in freeze-clamped muscles from tankrested fish. The activities of hexokinase, phosphorylase and phosphofructokinase were approximately 2–3 times lower in carp than trout white muscles. Pyruvate kinase and lactate dehydrogenase activities were 5 times lower in carp white muscle. The lower, broader pH optima of lactate dehydrogenase and pyruvate kinase from carp compared to trout muscles is thought to be correlated with the greater anoxic tolerance of the carp. Glycolytic enzyme profiles were markedly different between the red and white muscles of the rainbow trout but broadly similar, with the exception of hexokinase activity, for the corresponding muscles of the carp. The results are discussed in relation to what is known about anaerobiosis in these two species and the comparative physiology of red and white muscles in fish.     

Importance of electrode positioning in biotelemetry studies estimating muscle activity in fish

Red and white axial muscle activity of adult Atlantic salmon Salmo salar was examined using conventional electromyography (EMG x ) and activity radio-transmitters (EMG i ) at 0·5 and 0.7 body lengths (L) along the body of the fish. Critical swimming trials were conducted and maximum sustainable speeds (U_crit) were unaffected by the presence of electrodes, being 1·51 ± 21 m s⁻¹ (3.33 ± 0.34 L s⁻¹) ( n =44). Regardless of longitudinal position of the electrodes within the musculature, both EMG x s and EMG i s indicated increasing red muscle activity with increasing swimming speed, whereas white muscle fibres were recruited only at speeds > 86±5% U_crit. Telemetered EMG i signals indicated that muscle activity varied significantly for electrodes implanted at different longitudinal positions along the fish ( P < 0·001). These results suggest that electrode placement is an important influence affecting the signals obtained from radio transmitters that estimate activity and location should be standardized within biotelemetry studies to allow accurate and consistent comparisons of activity between individuals and species. Optimal location for electrode placement was determined to be in the red muscle, towards the tail of the fish (0·7 L ).     

Metabolic adjustments in the common carp during prolonged hypoxia

Biochemical and respiratory changes in the common carp Cyprinus carpio , were studied 6, 24, 96 and 168 h upon exposure to hypoxia (0·5 mgO₂ l⁻¹). Modification of kinetic properties of phosphofructokinase (PFK-1), coupled with a decreased in PFK-1 activities, were evident in muscle. No changes in kinetics and activities could be observed in muscle pyruvate kinase (PK) and lactate dehydrogenase (LDH). A decrease in muscle citrate synthase (CS) and an increase in muscle cytochrome c oxidase (CCO) were found. The common carp was able to maintain a constant level of muscle glycogen, muscle ATP, and liver CS throughout the 168-h experimental period. Changes in activities of liver LDH and muscle CCO were observed only at 168 h, which indicates that common carp may switch to alternative metabolic pathway to deal with prolonged hypoxia. A severe decrease in liver glycogen was accompanied by increases in lactate levels in both the muscle and liver. Oxygen consumption rate was reduced under hypoxia, but resumed to normoxic levels within 2 h upon return to normoxic condition. Overall, these results indicate that carp adopt different strategies in an attempt to deal with short term and long term hypoxia in the natural environment.     

Functional Morphology and Biochemical Indices of Performance: Is there a Correlation Between Metabolic Enzyme Activity and Swimming Performance?

Comparative physiologists and ecologists have searched for aspecific morphological, physiological or biochemical parameterthat could be easily measured in a captive, frozen, or preservedanimal, and that would accurately predict the routine behavioror performance of that species in the wild. Many investigatorshave measured the activity of specific enzymes in the locomotormusculature of marine fishes, generally assuming that high specificactivities of enzymes involved in aerobic metabolism are indicatorsof high levels of sustained swimming performance and that highactivities of anaerobic metabolic enzymes indicate high levelsof burst swimming performance. We review the data that supportthis hypothesis and describe two recent studies we have conductedthat specifically test the hypothesis that biochemical indicesof anaerobic or aerobic capacity in fish myotomal muscle correlatewith direct measures of swimming performance. First, we determinedthat the maximum speed during escapes (C-starts) for individuallarval and juvenile California halibut did not correlate withthe activity of the enzyme lactate dehydrogenase, an index ofanaerobic capacity, in the myotomal muscle, when the effectsof fish size are factored out using residuals analysis. Second,we found that none of three aerobic capacity indices (citratesynthase activity, 3-hydroxy-o-acylCoA dehydrogenase activity,and myoglobin concentration) measured in the slow, oxidativemuscle of juvenile scombrid fishes correlated significantlywith maximum sustained speed. Thus, there was little correspondencebetween specific biochemical characteristics of the locomotormuscle of individual fish and whole animal swimming performance.However, it may be possible to identify biochemical indicesthat are accurate predictors of animal performance in phylogeneticallybased studies designed to separate out the effects of body size,temperature, and ontogenetic stage.     

Effects of sustained swimming on rainbow trout muscle structure, blood oxygen transport, and lactate dehydrogenase isozymes: evidence for increased aerobic capacity of white muscle

Groups of rainbow trout (Salmo gairdneri, Richardson) were continuously swum at 20 cm s-1 (1.0 body lengths s-1) for 0, 3, 30, and 200 days. No significant changes in fish condition factor, combined red and white muscle mass, muscle fibre size or fibre size distribution were observed. After 200 days of swimming there was a significant 2.2 fold increase in red muscle mass. Number of capillaries per red muscle fibre increased significantly in each group by a maximum of 27% after 200 days exercise. Number of capillaries per white muscle fibre increased significantly by 95% after 200 days exercise. Blood lactate, haemoglobin (Hb) concentration haematocrit, erythrocyte adenosine triphosphate, and whole blood oxygen affinity P50 were unchanged by swimming. After 30 and 200 days swimming there was a shift in expression of white muscle lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) isozymes from LDH-A to LDH-B. Within the duplicated LDH-B isozyme complex, there was a shift in expression from LDH-B to LDH-B' subunits. These results suggest that sustained swimming at 1(-1) bl s-1 increased the aerobic capacity of red and particularly white (fast) muscle of rainbow trout but did not alter the gas transport characteristics of the blood.     

不同游泳速度条件下瓦氏黄颡幼鱼的有氧和无氧代谢反应

在(25±1)℃的条件下,测定瓦氏黄颡(Pelteobagrus vachelli Richardson)幼鱼体重(4.34±0.13)g的临界游泳速度(Ucrit),然后分别以临界游泳速度的不同百分比(20、40、60、80、100%Ucrit)将实验鱼分为5个速度处理组,另外设置静止对照组和高速力竭对照组。处理组实验鱼在不同游泳速度下分别游泳20min,在此过程中测定并计算运动代谢率(Activity metabolic rate,AMR),随后测定肌肉、血液和肝脏中的乳酸、糖原和葡萄糖含量。结果显示:实验鱼的绝对临界游泳速度为(48.28±1.02)cm/s,相对临界游泳速度为(6.78±0.16)BL/s;随着游泳速度的提高AMR显著增加(Pcrit时肌乳酸和血乳酸含量显著高于80%Ucrit的水平(P0.05);100%Ucrit时肝糖原含量显著低于40%Ucrit的水平(P0.05)。经计算瓦氏黄颡幼鱼到达临界游泳速度时的无氧代谢功率比例仅为11.0%,表明其游泳运动主要以有氧代谢供能;实验鱼的无氧代谢大约在80%Ucrit才开始启动,与其他鱼类比较启动时间较晚,说明其游泳运动对无氧代谢的依赖程度较低。研究提示瓦氏黄颡幼鱼是一种有氧运动能力较强的鱼类,这一能量代谢特征可能与提高其生存适合度有关。       

Allometric scaling of maximal enzyme activities in the axial musculature of striped bass, Morone saxatilis (Walbaum)

It had been suggested that the activity of anaerobic enzymes in the white muscle of fish increases exponentially with body size to meet the increasing hydrodynamic costs of burst swimming. We tested whether this relationship holds across a very large size range of striped bass, spanning a nearly 3,000-fold range in body mass. We examined the scaling of marker enzymes of anaerobic (lactate dehydrogenase and pyruvate kinase) and aerobic (citrate synthase and malate dehydrogenase) metabolism in the red and white locomotor muscles. In white muscle, we found positive scaling of anaerobic enzymes only in smaller fishes. Positive scaling of anaerobic enzymes was not found among the samples that included fishes >1,000 g despite having a sufficiently large sample size to detect such scaling. The absence of positive scaling in the white muscles of large bass suggests that they are unable to generate sufficient power to sustain relative burst swimming performance. Enzymes from aerobic pathways had activities that were mass independent in both red and white muscle. Red and white muscles were metabolically distinct except among the smallest fishes. Among young of the year, the anaerobic capacity of red muscle approached that of white muscle and also showed positive scaling. This unusual pattern suggests that red muscle might augment white muscle during burst swimming and add to the total power generated by these small fish. Maximizing burst swimming performance may be critical for small fishes vulnerable to predation but unimportant for large fishes.     

Effects of thermal acclimation on the relaxation system of crucian carp white myotomal muscle.

Many cyprinid fish are able to compensate for a decrease in ambient temperature by process of physiological adaptation in the function of muscles. In the winter habitat of crucian carp (Carassius carassius L.), low temperature is associated with simultaneous oxygen shortage. Because of the oxygen deprivation, there is probably little space for compensatory adaptation because positive thermal compensation would increase energy demand and accelerate depletion of glycogen reserves. Thus, we assumed that the crucian carp, unlike many other cyprinid fish, would not show positive thermal compensation but either no compensation or inverse compensation in muscle function. To test this hypothesis in the relaxation system of skeletal muscles, we determined the parvalbumin content and the activity of sarcoplasmic reticular (SR) Ca-ATPase in white myotomal muscle of winter- and summer-acclimated crucian carp. In the laboratory, the winter fish were kept at 2 degrees C and the summer fish at 22 degrees C for a minimum of 3 weeks before the experiments. The specific activity of SR Ca-ATPase at low experimental temperature (2 degrees C) was similar in summer- and winter-acclimated fish (0.26 +/- 0.04 vs. 0.25 +/- 0.04 mM/mg/min; P > 0.05). Because of the bigger Q(10) of cold-acclimated carp, the enzyme activity at 30 degrees C was higher in cold-acclimated winter fish than in warm-acclimated summer fish (7.42 +/- 0.90 vs. 5.18 +/- 0.53 mM/mg/min; P < 0.05). In contrast, the yield of SR protein was 70% higher in summer than winter fish (0.315 +/- 0.045 vs. 0.187 +/- 0.017 mg/g; P < 0.001). Because of these opposing changes, total Ca-ATPase activity of SR (per gram muscle weight) remained relatively constant. Similarly, the parvalbumin content of the myotomal muscle was not different between summer (4.09 +/- 0.95 mg/g) and winter (3.70 +/- 0.60 mg/g) fish. Although there were no seasonal changes in the total relaxing system of the crucian carp white myotomal muscle, the same activity of SR Ca-ATPase in winter fish was obtained with less amount of SR pump protein, owing to the increased catalytic activity of the enzyme. The higher catalytic activity of winter fish SR Ca-ATPase might be caused by differences in fatty acid composition noted in membrane lipids; i.e., fewer saturated fatty acids and more n-6 polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFAs), at the expense of n-3 PUFAs, were present in the SR of cold-acclimated winter fish. Temperature-induced changes in enzyme protein, however, cannot be excluded. Thus, the present results indicate the absence of positive thermal compensation in the relaxing system of crucian carp white muscle. It seems, however, that lipid composition of SR membranes and temperature dependence of SR Ca-ATPase are altered by seasonal acclimation.