title: Histochemical heterogeneity of fibers in the abdominal superficial flexor muscles of the Norway lobster, Nephrops norvegicus (L.).
abstract: The superficial flexor muscle in the abdomen of the Norway lobster Nephrops norvegicus (L.), comprises medial and lateral bundles with distinct fiber type composition. Fibers of the medial bundle have long sarcomeres (> 9 microns) and a thick fringe of subsarcolemmal mitochondria. In histochemical tests they have a low total myofibrillar ATPase activity, a pH-stable isoform of myosin ATPase, and a high level of oxidative enzyme activity. A few fibers of the lateral bundle also display these morphological and histochemical properties. However, the majority of lateral fibers have shorter sarcomeres (< 8 microns), no subsarcolemmal mitochondria, but a well-developed tubular system. They also have a higher total myofibrillar ATPase activity, a pH-labile isoform of myosin ATPase, and a low level of oxidative enzyme activity. The heterogeneous pattern of different fiber types in the lateral bundle of this muscle is similar but not identical in the different abdominal segments and in different individuals.
authors.affiliation: Department of Zoology, University of Glasgow, Scotland.
authors.forename: W S
authors.initials: WS
authors.lastname: Fowler
authors.forename: D M
authors.initials: DM
authors.lastname: Neil
mesh_terms: D000009:Abdominal Muscles / Q000166:cytology* / Q000201:enzymology / Q000648:ultrastructure; D000251:Adenosine Triphosphatases / Q000378:metabolism; D000818:Animals; D006651:Histocytochemistry; D006863:Hydrogen-Ion Concentration; D008297:Male; D009119:Muscle Contraction; D009124:Muscle Proteins / Q000378:metabolism; D009218:Myosins / Q000378:metabolism; D008121:Nephropidae; D009469:Neuromuscular Junction; D013385:Succinate Dehydrogenase / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: D009124:Muscle Proteins; D013385:Succinate Dehydrogenase; D000251:Adenosine Triphosphatases; D009218:Myosins