Comparative study of the gastrocnemius and soleus muscles of the Egyptian desert rodent Gerbillus pyramidum and the albino rat.
The hind limb muscles of the Egyptian desert rodent Gerbillus pyramidum and the albino rat were studied macroscopically and microscopically, using ordinary and histochemical techniques. The results revealed a relatively long hind limb and a relatively long tendon of the gastrocnemius group in G. pyramidum as compared with the albino rat. The dark fibres (red) were dominant in the muscles of the former animal and its spindles similarly contained more dense intrafusal fibres than the spindles of the albino rat. The correlation between these findings and the frequency and power of movement of the hind limbs in G. pyramidum was discussed.
D000818:Animals; D002802:Cholinesterases / Q000378:metabolism; D005849:Gerbillinae / Q000033:anatomy & histology*; D006003:Glycogen / Q000378:metabolism; D006651:Histocytochemistry; D007866:Leg; D009132:Muscles / Q000033:anatomy & histology* / Q000166:cytology / Q000201:enzymology; D051381:Rats / Q000033:anatomy & histology*; D013385:Succinate Dehydrogenase / Q000378:metabolism
D006003:Glycogen; D013385:Succinate Dehydrogenase; D002802:Cholinesterases