Skip to main content
Log in

An ultrastructural and histochemical study of the axial musculature in the African lungfish

  • Published:
Cell and Tissue Research Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Summary

Red, intermediate, and white axial muscle fibres of African lungfish were studied using histochemical techniques and electron microscopy. Gross dissection revealed the presence of a small wedge of red coloured muscle along the lateral line. This wedge was shown by histochemical demonstrations of lactate and succinate dehydrogenases, of adenosine triphosphatases, and of lipid to be composed of a mosaic of red and intermediate fibres measuring 23.63 and 34.30 μm in average diameter, respectively. The bulk of the myotome was composed of white fibres having an average diameter of 67.35 μm. Mitochondrial density, capillarity and lipid content were very low for all fibres. These data suggest that the axial musculature is geared primarily for anaerobic function. The mosaic arrangement of fibres, and the lack of a subsarcolemmal band of mitochondria suggests that the lungfish have a muscle organisation that is transitional between lower vertebrates and amphibians.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  • Black EC, Connor AR, Lam KC, Chiu WG (1962) Changes in glycogen, pyruvate, and lactate in rainbow trout (Salmo gairdneri) during and following muscular activity. J Fish Res Bd Canada 19:409–436

    Google Scholar 

  • Boddeke R, Slijper EJ, van der Stell A (1959) Histological characteristics of the body musculature of fishes in connection with their mode of life. Ned Ak Wetwesch Ser C 62:576–588

    Google Scholar 

  • Bone Q (1966) On the function of the two types of myotomal muscle fibre in elasmobranch fish. J Mar Biol Ass UK 46:321–349

    Google Scholar 

  • Davison W, Goldspink G (1977) The effect of prolonged exercise of the lateral musculature of the brown trout (Salmo trutta). J Exp Biol 70:1–12

    Google Scholar 

  • Delaney RG, Lahiri S, Hamilton R, Fishman AP (1977) Acid-base status and plasma composition in the estivating lungfish (Protopterus). Am J Physiol 232:R10-R17

    Google Scholar 

  • Flood PR (1968) Structure of the segmental trunk muscles in amphioxus. Z Zellforsch 84:389–416

    Google Scholar 

  • Guth L, Samaha FJ (1970) Procedure for the histochemical demonstration of actomyosin ATPase. Exptl Neurol 28:365–367

    Google Scholar 

  • Hochachka PW, Murphy B (1979) Metabolic status during diving and recovery in marine mammals. In: Robertshaw D (ed) Int Rev Physiol, Environmental Physiology III, Vol 20, Univ Park Press, Baltimore, 253–287

    Google Scholar 

  • Hudson RCL (1973) On the function of the white muscle in teleosts at intermediate swimming speeds. J Exp Biol 58:509–522

    Google Scholar 

  • Hulbert WC, Moon TW (1978) A histochemical, light, and electron microscopic examination of eel, Anguilla rostrata, red and white muscle. J Fish Biol 13:527–533

    Google Scholar 

  • Hulbert WC, Guppy M, Murphy B, Hochachka PW (1979) Metabolic sources of heat and power in tuna muscles. 1. Muscle fine structure. J Exp Biol 82:289–301

    Google Scholar 

  • Johnston IA, Goldspink G (1973) A study of the swimming performance of the crucian carp Carassius carassius in relation to the effects of exercise and recovery on biochemical changes in the myotomal muscles and liver. J Fish Biol 5:249–260

    Google Scholar 

  • Johnston IA, Davison W, Goldspink G (1977) Energy metabolism of carp swimming muscles. J Comp Physiol 114:203–216

    Google Scholar 

  • Johnston IA, Patterson S, Ward P, Goldspink G (1974) The histochemical demonstration of myofibrillar adenosine triphosphatase activity in fish muscle. Can J Zool 52:871–877

    Google Scholar 

  • Kilarski W (1967) The fine structure of striated muscles in teleosts. Z Zellforsch 79:562–580

    Google Scholar 

  • Korneliussen H, Nicholaysen K (1973) Ultrastructure of four types of striated muscle fibers in the Atlantic hagfish (Myxine glutinosa L.). Z Zellforsch 143:273–290

    Google Scholar 

  • Kryvi H (1977) Ultrastructure of the different fibre types in axial muscles of the sharks Etmopterus spinax and Galeus melastomus. Cell Tissue Res 184:287–300

    Google Scholar 

  • Lahiri S, Szidon JP, Fishman AP (1970) Potential respiratory and circulatory adjustments to hypoxia in the African lungfish. Fed Proc 29:1141–1148

    Google Scholar 

  • Lie HR (1974) A quantitative identification of three muscle fiber types in the body muscles of Lampetra fluviatilis and their relation to blood capillaries. Cell Tissue Res 154:109–119

    Google Scholar 

  • Mellgren SI, Mathisen JS (1966) Oxidative enzymes, glycogen, and lipid in striated muscle. A histochemical study in the Atlantic hagfish (Myxine glutinosa L.). Z Zellforsch 71:169–188

    Google Scholar 

  • Mosse PRL (1979) Capillary distribution and metabolic histochemistry of the lateral propulsive musculature of pelagic teleost fish. Cell Tissue Res 203:141–160

    Google Scholar 

  • Nachlas MM, Tsou KC, De Sonza E, Cheng CS, Seligman AM (1957) Cytochemical demonstration of succinic dehydrogenase by the use of a new p-nitrophenyl substituted ditetrazole. J Histochem Cytochem 5:420–436

    Google Scholar 

  • Nachlas MM, Walker DG, Seligman Am (1958) A histochemical method for the demonstration of diaphosphopyridine nucleotide diaphorase. J Biophys Biochem Cytol 4:29–38

    Google Scholar 

  • Patterson S, Goldspink G (1972) The fine structure of red and white myotomal muscle fibres of the coalfish (Gadus virens). Z Zellforsch 133:463–474

    Google Scholar 

  • Patterson S, Goldspink G (1973) The effect of starvation on the ultrastructure of the red and white myotomal muscles of the crucian carp. Z Zellforsch 146:375–384

    Google Scholar 

  • Smith HW (1931) Observations of the African lungfish Protopterus aethiopicus and on evolution from water to land environments. Ecology 12:164–181

    Google Scholar 

  • Totland GK (1976) Three muscle fibre types in the axial muscle of Axolotl (Ambystoma mexicanum Shaw). A quantitative light and electron microscopic study. Cell Tissue Res 168:65–78

    Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

Authors

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Dunn, J.F., Davison, W., Maloiy, G.M.O. et al. An ultrastructural and histochemical study of the axial musculature in the African lungfish. Cell Tissue Res. 220, 599–609 (1981). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00216763

Download citation

  • Accepted:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00216763

Key words

Navigation