Abstract
We analyzed the masticatory Muscles (masseter, temporal, medial pterygoid and lateral pterygoid muscles) of Bovidae and Cervidae (Artiodactyla) for the histochemical characteristics of their fiber types. Analysis of muscle fiber types in the present study was based on the staining reaction for SDH, Sudan black B, α-GPDH, and myosin-A TPase after alkaline preincubations. Histochemical properties were found to contribute to masticatory function, including a slow-twitch fatigue resistant activity derived from the high percentage of red fibers, in spite of the differences in the distributions of fiber types in three portions (superficial, medial and profound portions) of each masticatory muscle.
These results indicate a correlation between the histochemical profiles of individual masticatory muscles in these species and their functions during jaw movements. Histochemical profiles of fiber types in masticatory
