Summary
The organization, histochemical and endplate characteristics, and percentage fiber composition are described for mouse extraocular muscle (EOM). Both recti and obliques, but not the retractor bulbi, have two concentric layers, an inner global and superficial orbital. Three histochemical fiber types, coarse, fine and granular, are present in the EOM. The intermediate diameter coarse fibers are focally innervated and occur in both layers in all muscles. The large diameter granular fibers are focally innervated and occur in all EOM in the global layer. The small diameter fine fibers have multierminal endplates and occur in both layers of the recti. Fine fibers are not seen in the obliques or retractor bulbi. Focal endplates are confined to a broad diagonal band across the middle one third of the muscle, whereas multiterminal endplates are scattered throughout the length of the muscle.
This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.
Similar content being viewed by others
References
Alvarado J, Van Horn C (1975) Muscle cell types of the cat inferior oblique. In: Lennerstrand G, Bach-y-Rita P (ed) Basic mechanisms of ocular motility and their clinical implications. Pergamon Press, Oxford
Alvarado-Mallart R, Pincon-Raymond M (1979) The pallisade endings of cat extraocular muscles: a light and electron microscope study. Tissue Cell 11:567–584
Bennett MR, Pettigrew AG, Taylor RS (1973) The formation of synapses in reinnervated and cross-re-innervated adult avian muscle. J Physiol 230:331–357
Bormioli SP, Torresan P, Sartore S, Moschini GB, Schiaffino S (1979) Immunohistochemical identification of slow tonic fibers in human extrinsic eye muscles. Invest Opthalmol Vis Sci 18:303–306
Bormioli SP, Sartore S, Vitadello M, Schiaffino C (1980) Slow' myosins in vetebrate skeletal muscle. J Cell Biol 85:672–681
Dubowitz V, Brooke MH (1973) Muscle biopsy: A modern approach, W.B. Saunders, London
Durston J (1974) Histochemistry of primate extroacular muscles and the changes of denervation. Br J Ophthalmol 58:193–216
Engel WK, Brooke MH (1973) Muscle biopsy as a clinical diagnostic aid. In: Fields WS (ed) Neurological diagnostic techniques. W.B. Saunders, London
Hess A (1961) Structural differences of fast and slow extrafusal muscle fibers and their nerve endings in chickens. J Physiol 157:221–231
Kaczmarski F (1970) The fine structure of extraocular muscles of the bank vole. Acta Anat 77:570–582
Kaczmarski F (1978) Quantitative comparison of the extrinsic eye muscles and cranial nerves III, IV and VI in the mouse. Acta Biol Crac Zool 2:121–136
Karnovsky MJ, Roots L (1964) A ‘direct-coloring’ thiocholine method for cholinesterases. J Histochem Cytochem 12:219–221
Lennerstrand G (1975) Motor units in eye muscles. In: Lennerstrand G, Bach-y-Rita P (ed) Basic mechanisms of ocular motility and their clinical implications. Pergamon Press, Oxford
Mahran ZY, Sakla FB (1965) The pattern of innervation of the extrinsic ocular muscles and the intra-orbital ganglia of the albino mouse. Anat Rec 152:173–184
Mayr R (1971) Structure and distribution of fiber types in the external eye muscles of the rat. Tissue Cell 3:433–462
Mayr R, Gottschall J, Gruber H, Neuhuber W (1975) Internal structure of cat extraocular muscle. Anat Embryol 148:25–34
Namba T, Nakamura T, Takahashi A, Grob D (1968) Motor nerve endings in extraocular muscles. J Comp Neurol 134:385–396
Pachter BR, Davidowitz J, Breinin GM (1976) Light and electron microscopic serial analysis of mouse extraocular muscle: morphology, innervation and topographical organizations of component fiber populations. Tissue Cell 8:547–560
Peachey L, Takeichi M, Nag A (1974) Muscle fiber types and innervation in adult cat extraocular muscles. In: Milhorat A (ed) Exploratory concepts in muscular dystrophy II. Excerpta Medica, Amserdam
Ringel SP, Engel WK, Bender A, Peters N, Yee R (1978a) Histochemistry and acetylcholine receptor distribution in normal and denervated monkey extraocular muscles. Neurology 28:55–63
Ringel SP, Wilson W, Barden M, Kaiser KK (1978b) Histochemistry of human extraocular muscle. Arch Ophthalmol 96:1067–1072
Salpeter M, McHenry F, Feng H (1974) Myoneural junctions in the extraocular muscles of the mouse. Anat Rec 179:201–224
Teravainen H, Huikuri K (1969) Effect of oculomotor and trigeminal nerve section on the ultrastructure of different myoneural junctions in the rat extraocular muscles. Z Zellforsch 102:456–482
Wollard HH (1930) The innervation of the ocular muscles. J Anat 65:215–223
Zenker W, Anzenbacker H (1964) On the different forms of myoneural junction in two types of muscle fibers from the external ocular muscles of the Rhesus monkey. J Cell Comp Physiol 63:273–285
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Additional information
This research was carried out during the tenure of a Postdoctoral Fellowship from the Muscular Dystrophy Association
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Carry, M.R., O'Keefe, K. & Ringel, S.P. Histochemistry of mouse extraocular muscle. Anat Embryol 164, 403–412 (1982). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00315761
Accepted:
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00315761