Abstract
The M. pectoralis thoracicus, M. iliotibialis lateralis, and M. pubischiofemorales of the Japanese quail were histochemically investigated. The type A fibers with a high activity of NADH: Nito BT oxidoreductase (NADHOX) and alkali-stable myosin ATPase showed a relatively high activity of glycerol-3-phosphate: menadione oxidoreductase (GPOX) and a low to high activity of 3-hydroxybutyrate: NAD+ oxidoreductase (HBOX). The type B fibers with low NADH activity and high alkali-stable ATPase activity were moderate in GPOX activity and very low or absent in HBOX activity. The type C fibers with high NADHOX activity and low alkali-stable ATPase activity showed a low GPOX activity and a high HBOX activity. The pectoralis thoracicus contained numerous A fibers and few B fibers; the iliotibialis lateralis had few A fibers and many B fibers. The M. pubischiofemorales pars externus contained numerous A fibers and few B and C fibers, whereas the pars internus possessed few A fibers and many C fibers. It is suggested that the M. pubischiofemorales pars internus with many C fibers differs (in function) from the pars externus with few C fibers.
