title: Fiber type and metabolic characteristics of lion (Panthera leo), caracal (Caracal caracal) and human skeletal muscle.
abstract: Lion (Panthera leo) and caracal (Caracal caracal) skeletal muscle samples from Vastus lateralis, Longissimus dorsi and Gluteus medius were analyzed for fiber type and citrate synthase (CS; EC 2.3.3.1), 3-hydroxyacyl Co A dehydrogenase (3HAD; EC 1.1.1.35), phosphofructokinase-1 (PFK; EC 2.7.1.11), creatine kinase (CK; EC 2.7.3.2), phosphorylase (PHOS; EC 2.4.1.1) and lactate dehydrogenase (LDH; EC 1.1.1.27) activities and compared to human runners, the latter also serving as validation of methodology. Both felids had predominantly type IIx fibers (range 50-80%), whereas human muscle had more types I and IIa. Oxidative capacity of both felids (CS: 5-9 μmol/min/g ww and 3HAD: 1.4-2.6 μmol/min/g ww) was lower than humans, whereas the glycolytic capacity was elevated. LDH activity of caracal (346 ± 81) was higher than lion (227 ± 62 μmol/min/g ww), with human being the lowest (55 ± 17). CK and PHOS activities were also higher in caracal and lion compared to human, but PFK was lower in both felid species. The current data and past research are illustrated graphically showing a strong relationship between type II fibers and sprinting ability in various species. These data on caracal and lion muscles confirm their sprinting behavior.
authors.affiliation: UCT/MRC Research Unit for Exercise Science and Sports Medicine, Department of Human Biology, PO Box 115, Newlands 7725, South Africa. ta.kohn@uct.ac.za
authors.forename: Tertius Abraham
authors.initials: TA
authors.lastname: Kohn
authors.forename: Richard
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Burroughs
authors.forename: Marthinus Jacobus
authors.initials: MJ
authors.lastname: Hartman
authors.forename: Timothy David
authors.initials: TD
authors.lastname: Noakes
mesh_terms: D015094:3-Hydroxyacyl CoA Dehydrogenases / Q000378:metabolism; D000818:Animals; D002415:Cats; D002950:Citrate (si)-Synthase / Q000378:metabolism; D003402:Creatine Kinase / Q000378:metabolism; D057075:Enzyme Assays; D045991:Felis / Q000033:anatomy & histology* / Q000378:metabolism; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007770:L-Lactate Dehydrogenase / Q000378:metabolism; D008045:Lions / Q000033:anatomy & histology* / Q000378:metabolism; D008297:Male; D018482:Muscle, Skeletal / Q000033:anatomy & histology* / Q000201:enzymology; D018995:Myosin Heavy Chains / Q000145:classification / Q000378:metabolism; D025221:Phosphofructokinases / Q000378:metabolism; D006005:Phosphorylases / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: D015094:3-Hydroxyacyl CoA Dehydrogenases; D007770:L-Lactate Dehydrogenase; D002950:Citrate (si)-Synthase; D006005:Phosphorylases; D025221:Phosphofructokinases; D003402:Creatine Kinase; D018995:Myosin Heavy Chains