Summary
-
1.
The neuromuscular end plates and preterminal axons of cod (Gadus morhua) fast myotomal muscle were stained for cholinesterase activity.
-
2.
The number of end plates per fibre on superficial fast fibres (17.88±2.13, mean ± 1 S.D.) was significantly higher than that of deep fast fibres (14.79 ± 2. 48,P≪0.001). A small degree of multiterminal innervation was noted. The end plates showed a great variety in structure and size.
-
3.
Fast muscle contains fibres with a wide range of diameters (20–240 μm). However, no correlation was found between the numbers of end plates per fibre and fibre diameter.
-
4.
A terminal branch of a given axon innervates fibres of a wide range of diameters.
-
5.
It is concluded that fibres of different sizes have a similar pattern of innervation and are unlikely to represent functionally distinct fibre types.
Similar content being viewed by others
References
Alexander RMcN (1969) The orientation of muscle fibres in the myomeres of fishes. J Mar Biol Assoc UK 49:263–290
Barets A (1961) Contribution à l'étude des systèmes moteur lent et rapide du muscle lateral des téléostéens. Arch Anat Morphol Exp 50:Suppl 91–187
Boddeke R, Slijper EJ, van der Stelt A (1959) Histological characteristics of the body musculature of fishes in connection with their mode of life. Proc K Ned Akad Wet Ser C 62:576–588
Bone Q (1964) Patterns of muscular innervation in the lower chordates. Int Rev Neurobiol 6:99–147
Bone Q (1966) On the function of the two types of myotomal muscle fibres in elasmobranch fish. J Mar Biol Ass UK 46:321–349
Bone Q (1970) Muscular innervation and fish classification. Simp Int Zoofil 1st Univ. Salamanca, pp 369–377
Bone Q (1975) Muscular and energetic aspects of fish swimming. In: Wu, TY-T, Brokaw CJ, Brennen C (eds) Swimming and flying in nature, vol 2. Plenum, New York, pp 493–528
Bone Q (1978a) Locomotor muscle. In: Hoar WS, Randall DJ (eds) Fish physiology, vol VII. Academic Press, New York San Francisco London, pp 361–424
Bone Q, Kicenuik J, Jones DR (1978) On the role of the different fibre types in fish myotomes at intermediate swimming speeds. Fish Bull 76:691–699
Greene CW (1913) An undescribed longitudinal differentiation of the great lateral muscle of the King Salmon. Anat Rec 7:99–101
Hagiwara S, Takahashi K (1967) Resting and spike potentials of skeletal muscle fibres in salt-water elasmobranch and teleost fish. J Physiol (Lond) 190:499–518
Hudson RCL (1967) Histological and electrophysiological investigations of the fast muscles of the teleostCottus bubalis. PhD Thesis, Gatty Marine Laboratory, St. Andrews
Hudson RCL (1969) Polyneuronal innervation of the fast muscles of the marine teleostCottus scorpius L. J Exp Biol 50:47–67
Hudson RCL (1973) On the function of the white muscles in teleosts at intermediate swimming speeds. J Exp Biol 58:509–522
Johnston IA (1980a) Specializations of fish muscle. In: Goldspink DF (ed) Development and specializations of muscle. Soc Exp Biol Semin Ser, vol 7. Cambridge University Press, Cambridge, pp 123–148
Johnston IA (1980b) Contractile properties of fish fast muscle fibres. Mar Biol Lett 1:323–328
Johnston IA (1981) Structure and function of muscles. Vertebrate locomotion. In: MH Day (ed) Symp Zool Soc (Lond), vol 48. Academic Press, London, pp 71–113
Johnston IA, Moon TW (1980a) Exercise training in skeletal muscle of brook trout (Salvelinus fontinalis). J Exp Biol 87:177–195
Johnston IA, Moon TW (1980b) Endurance exercise training in the fast and slow muscles of a teleost fish (Pollachius virens). J Comp Physiol 135:147–156
Johnston IA, Davison W, Goldspink G (1977) Energy metabolism of carp swimming muscles. J Comp Physiol 114:203–216
Kryvi H (1977) Ultrastructure of the different fibre types in axial muscles of the sharksEtmopterus spinax andGaleus melastomus. Cell Tiss Res 184:287–300
Naik NT (1963) Technical variations in Koelle's histochemical method for demonstrating cholinesterase activity. Q J Microsc Sci 104:89–100
Nishihara H (1967) Studies on the fine structure of red and white fin muscles of the fish (Carrasius auratus). Arch Histol Jpn (Niigata Jpn) 28:425–447
Takeuchi A (1959) Neuromuscular transmission of fish skeletal muscles investigated with intracellular microelectrodes. J Cell Comp Physiol 54:211–220
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Additional information
We are grateful for support from The Science Research Council and the Royal Society Scientific Investigation Fund.
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Altringham, J.D., Johnston, I.A. Quantitative histochemical studies of the peripheral innervation of cod (Gadus morhua) fast myotomal muscle fibres. J. Comp. Physiol. 143, 123–127 (1981). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00606075
Accepted:
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00606075