Skip to main content

Ultrastructure of the different fibre types in axial muscles of the sharks Etmopterus spinax and Galeus melastomus

Cell and Tissue Research volume 184, pages 287–300 (1977)Cite this article

Summary

Red, intermediate and white axial muscle fibres of the sharks Etmopterus spinax and Galeus melastomus were studied by electron microscopy and morphometry. The mitochondrial content is more than thirty percent in red, less than one percent in white, and up to fifteen percent in intermediate fibres. About one third of the mitochondria in red fibres are accumulated close to the sarcolemma. Red fibres contain much glycogen, present as rosettes (alpha particles). Intermediate fibres contain less glycogen (as beta particles). White fibres have scarcely any visible energy reserves. Red fibres contain slightly less (4–5%) of the sarcotubular system than the other fibre types (6–8 %). In all fibre types, the terminal cisternae of the SR are regularly divided by clefts. Triads or dyads are generally positioned at the Z discs, but in Galeus white fibres two dyads may be present, one on each side of the Z disc. The morphology is discussed in relation to current views on the functions of different muscle fibre types.

This is a preview of subscription content, access via your institution.

Access options

Buy single article

Instant access to the full article PDF.

43,34 €

Price includes VAT (Finland)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

References

  • Biava, Identification and structural forms of human paniculate glycogen. Lab. Invest. 12, 1179–1197 (1963)

  • Bilinski, E.: Utilization of lipids by fish. I. Fatty acid oxidation by tissue slices from dark and white muscle of rainbow trout (Salmo gairdneri) Canad. J. Biochem. Physiol. 41, 107–112 (1963)

    Google Scholar 

  • Bishop, C.M., Odense, P.H.: The ultrastructure of the white striated myotomal muscle of the cod, Gadus morrhua. J. Fish. Res. Bd. Can. 24, 2549–2553 (1967)

    Google Scholar 

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

    Google Scholar 

  • Braekkan, O.R.: Function of the red muscle in fish. Nature (Lond.) 178, 747–748 (1956)

    Google Scholar 

  • Braekkan, O.R.: A comparative study of vitamins in the trunk muscles of fishes. Rep. technol. Res. Norw. Fish Ind. 3, 1–42 (1959)

    Google Scholar 

  • Davey, D.F., Mark, R.F., Marotte, L.R., Proske, U.: Structure and innervation of extraocular muscles of Carassius. J. Anat. (Lond.) 120, 131–147 (1975)

    Google Scholar 

  • Eichelberg, H.: The fine structure of the drum muscles of the tigrefish, Therapon jarbua, as compared with the trunk musculature. Cell Tiss. Res. 174, 453–463 (1976)

    Google Scholar 

  • Fawcett, D.W.: The Cell. Its organelles and inclusions. 448 pp. Philadelphia: W.B. Saunders, 1969

    Google Scholar 

  • Flood, P.R.: A peculiar mode of muscular innervation in amphioxus. Light and electron microscopic studies of the so-called ventral roots. J. comp. Neurol. 126, 181–217 (1966)

    Google Scholar 

  • Flood, P.R.: Structure of the segmental trunk muscle in amphioxus. With notes on the course and “ending” of the so-called ventral root fibres. Z. Zellforsch. 84, 389–416 (1968)

    Google Scholar 

  • Flood, P.R., Kryvi, H., Totland, G.K.: Onto-phylogenetic aspects of muscle fibre types in the segmental trunk muscle of lower chordates. Folia Morph. 25, 64–67 (1977)

    Google Scholar 

  • Franzini-Armstrong, C., Porter, K.R.: Sarcolemmal invaginations constituting the T system in fish muscle fibres. J. Cell Biol. 22, 675–696 (1964)

    Google Scholar 

  • Fraser, D.I., Mannan, A., Dyer, D.J.: Proximate composition of Canadian atlantic fish. III. Sectional differences in the flesh of species of Chondrostei, one of Chimaerae, and of some miscellaneous teleosts. J. Fish. Res. Bd. Can. 18, 893–905 (1961)

    Google Scholar 

  • George, J.C.: A histophysiological study of the red and white muscles of the mackerel. Amer. Midl. Nat. 68, 487–494 (1962)

    Google Scholar 

  • George, J.C., Bokdawala, D.: Cellular organisation and fat utilization in fish muscle. J. Anim. Morph. Physiol. 11, 124–132 (1964)

    Google Scholar 

  • Jasper, D.: Body muscles of the lamprey. Some structural features of the T system and sarcolemma. J. Cell Biol. 32, 219–227 (1967)

    Google Scholar 

  • Kilarski, W.: Cytomorphometry of sarcoplasmic reticulum in extrinsic eye muscle of the teleost (Tinca tinca L). Z. Zellforsch. 136, 535–544 (1973)

    Google Scholar 

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

    Google Scholar 

  • Korneliussen, H., Nicolaysen, K.: Distribution and dimension of the T-system in different muscle fiber types in the atlantic hagfish (Myxine glutinosa, L). Cell Tiss. Res. 157, 1–16 (1975)

    Google Scholar 

  • Kryvi, H.: The structure of the myosatellite cells in axial muscles of the shark Galeus melastomus. Anat. Embryol. 147, 35–44 (1975)

    Google Scholar 

  • Kryvi, H., Slinde, E.: Isolation and morphology of mitochondria from red axial muscle fibres of the shark Galeus melastomus. Cytobiologie 15, 221–232 (1977)

    Google Scholar 

  • Kryvi, H., Totland, G.K.: Histochemical studies with microphotometric determinations of the lateral muscles in the sharks Galeus melastomus and Etmopterus spinax. J. mar. biol. Ass. U. K. 57, 261–271 (1977a)

    Google Scholar 

  • Kryvi, H., Totland, G.K.: Histochemistry and structure of the locomotory muscles of the cartilaginous fish Chimaera monstrosa. J. Fish Biol. (in press) (1977b)

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

    Google Scholar 

  • Mellgren, S.I. Mathisen, J.S.: Oxidative enzymes, glycogen and lipid in striated muscle. A histochemical study in the atlantic hagflsh (Myxine glutinosa (L)). Z. Zellforsch. 71, 169–188 (1966)

    Google Scholar 

  • Müller, W.: Subsarcolemmal mitochondria and capillarization of soleus muscle fibres in young rats subjected to an endurance training. Cell Tiss. Res. 174, 367–389 (1976)

    Google Scholar 

  • Nag, A.C.: Ultrastructure and adenosine triphosphatase activity of red and white muscle fibres of the caudal region of a fish, Salmo gairdneri. J. Cell Biol. 55, 42–57 (1972)

    Google Scholar 

  • Nag, A.C., Nursall, J.R.: Histogenesis of white and red muscle fibres of trunk muscles of a fish Salmo gairdneri. Cytobios 6, 227–246 (1972)

    Google Scholar 

  • Nishihara, H.: Studies on the fine structure of red and white fin muscles of the fish (Carassius auratus). Arch, histol. Jap. 28, 425–447 (1967)

    Google Scholar 

  • Page, S.G.: A comparison of the fine structures of frog slow and twitch muscle fibres. J. Cell Biol. 26, 477–497 (1965)

    Google Scholar 

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

    Google Scholar 

  • Peachey, L.D.: The sarcoplasmic reticulum and transverse tubules of the frog's sartorius. J. Cell Biol. 25, 209–231 (1965)

    Google Scholar 

  • Teräväinen, H.: Anatomical and physiological studies on muscles of lamprey. J. Neurophysiol. 34, 954–973 (1971)

    Google Scholar 

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

    Google Scholar 

  • Totland, G.K., Kryvi, H., Slinde, E.: LDH isoenzyme pattern in the three fibre types in axial muscles of the sharks Galeus melastomus and Etmopterus spinax. J. Fish. Biol. in press (1977)

  • Weibel, E.R.: Stereological techniques for electron microscopic morphometry. In: Principles and techniques of electron microscopy, Vol. III (M.A. Hayat, ed.). New York: Van Nostrand Reinhold Comp. 1973

    Google Scholar 

  • Weibel, E.R., Elias, H.: Quantitative methods in morphology. Berlin-Heidelberg-New York: Springer 1967

    Google Scholar 

  • Wittenberger, C., Coprean, D., Morar, L.: Studies on the carbohydrate metabolism of the lateral muscles in carp (influence of phloridzin, insulin and adrenaline). J. comp. Physiol. 101, 161–172 (1975)

    Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Affiliations

  1. Institute of Anatomy, University of Bergen, Bergen, Norway

    Harald Kryvi

Authors
  1. Harald Kryvi
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Additional information

Supported by a grant from the Norwegian Research Council for Science and the Humanities (NAVF). The author thanks Dr. Per R. Flood, Bergen, for helpful advice. Dr. Helge Korneliussen, Oslo, kindly revised the manuscript, and Dr. Bill Kennedy, California, corrected the English

Rights and permissions

Reprints and Permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Kryvi, H. Ultrastructure of the different fibre types in axial muscles of the sharks Etmopterus spinax and Galeus melastomus . Cell Tissue Res. 184, 287–300 (1977). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00219891

Download citation

  • Accepted:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00219891

Key words

  • Axial musculature
  • Sharks
  • Fibre types
  • Ultrastructure