Histochemical and myosin composition of vampire bat (Desmodus rotundus) pectoralis muscle targets a unique locomotory niche.
The vampire bat pectoralis muscle contains at least four fiber types distributed in a nonhomogeneous pattern. One of these fiber types, here termed IIe, can be elucidated only by adenosine triphosphatase (ATPase) histochemistry combined with reactions against antifast and antislow myosin antibodies. The histochemical and immunohistochemical observations indicate a well-developed specialization of function within specific regions of the muscle. In parallel, analyses of native myosin isoforms and myosin heavy chain isoforms indicate two points. First, the histochemical "type IIe" fiber is predominant in cranial portions of the muscle, and myosin extracted from these regions exhibits a unique electrophoretic mobility not observed in the myosin isoforms of more traditional laboratory mammals. Second, the type I fibers are confined to the pectoralis abdominalis muscle and a small adjacent region of the caudal part of the pectoralis. This pattern of type I fiber distribution is considered a derived character state compared to muscle histochemical phenotype and isoform composition in the pectoralis muscles of other phyllostomids we have studied (Artibeus jamaicensis, Artibeus lituratus, Carollia perspicillata). We relate this to the unique locomotory needs of the common vampire bat, Desmodus rotundus.
Hermanson
J W
JW
Department of Anatomy, College of Veterinary Medicine, Cornell University, Ithaca, New York 14853.
Cobb
M A
MA
Schutt
W A
WA
Muradali
F
F
Ryan
J M
JM
D000818:Animals; D002685:Chiroptera / Q000378:metabolism*; D004586:Electrophoresis; D005260:Female; D006651:Histocytochemistry; D008297:Male; D009043:Motor Activity / Q000502:physiology*; D009218:Myosins / Q000032:analysis*; D010369:Pectoralis Muscles / Q000737:chemistry*
D009218:Myosins