Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

A comparative histochemical study of oxidative enzyme and phosphorylase activity in skeletal muscle

  • Published:
Zeitschrift für Zellforschung und mikroskopische Anatomie Abt. Histochemie Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Summary

  1. 1.

    Histochemical methods for oxidative enzymes and phosphorylase have been applied to various human muscles and to muscles from the rat, pigeon and goldfish. Toad muscle was also examined.

  2. 2.

    In human, rat and pigeon muscle a reciprocal activity of oxidative enzymes and phosphorylase was noted. In general the small (red) fibres possessed high oxidative enzyme content and the large (white) fibres a high phosphorylase content.

  3. 3.

    In the toad and the goldfish the reciprocal relationship was not noted.

  4. 4.

    Histochemical evidence supports the view that in mammalian and avian muscle there are two distinct fibre types and suggests that these carry out th eir contractile function by means of entirely different energy-supplying systems.

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

Access this article

Log in via an institution

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

  • Bennett, H. S., andK. R. Porter: An electron microscope study of sectioned breast muscle of the domestic fowl. Amer. J. Anat.93, 61–105 (1953).

    Google Scholar 

  • Bergman, R. A., andD. G. Walker: The cytochemical localization of oxidative enzymatic activity and glycogen in frog striated muscle. Bull. Johns Hopk. Hosp.104, 179–198 (1959).

    Google Scholar 

  • Bullard, H. H.: Histological as related to physiological and chemical differences in certain muscles of the cat. Johns Hopk. Hosp. Rep.18, 323–328 (1919).

    Google Scholar 

  • Buño, W., andN. I. Germino: Distribution of succinic dehydrogenase in the organs of the adult albino rat. Acta anat. (Basel)33, 161–174 (1958).

    Google Scholar 

  • Carlson, L. A., andB. Pernow: Studies on blood lipids during exercise. I. Arterial and Venous plasma concentrations of unesterified fatty acids. J. Lab. clin. Med.53, 833–841 (1959).

    Google Scholar 

  • Cori, C. F.: Regulation of enzyme activity in muscle during work. In: “Enzymes” Units of Biological Structure and Function (ed.O. M. Gaebler), p. 573. New York: Acad. Press 1956.

    Google Scholar 

  • Denny-Brown, D.: The histological features of striped muscle in relation to its functional activity. Proc. roy. Soc. Med. B104, 371–411 (1929).

    Google Scholar 

  • Dixon, M., andE. C. Webb: Enzymes, p. 631. London: Longmans 1958.

    Google Scholar 

  • Dubowitz, V., andA. G. E. Pearse: Reciprocal relationship of phosphorylase and oxidative enzymes in skeletal muscle. Nature (Lond.)185, 701–702 (1960a).

    Google Scholar 

  • —— —— Oxidative enzymes and Phosphorylase in Central Core Disease of Muscle. Lancet 23–24,1960 IIb.

    Google Scholar 

  • -- -- Enzymic activity of normal and dystrophic human muscle. (A histochemical study.) J. Path. Bact. (in press 1961).

  • George, J. C., andR. M. Naik: Relative distribution and chemical nature of the fuel store of the two types of fibre in the pectoralis major muscle of the pigeon. Nature (Lond.)181, 709–711 (1958).

    Google Scholar 

  • ——, andK. S. Scaria: A histochemical study of dehydrogenase activity in the pectoralis major muscle of the pigeon and certain other vertebrate skeletal muscles. Quart. J. micr. Sci.99, 469–473 (1958a).

    Google Scholar 

  • —— —— Histochemical demonstration of lipase activity in the pectoralis major muscle of the pigeon. Nature (Lond.)181, 782 (1958b).

    Google Scholar 

  • Green, D. E.: The cyclophorase System. In: Enzymes and Enzyme Systems — Their State in Nature (ed. J. T. Edsall), pp. 15–46. Cambridge, Massachusetts: Harvard Univ. Press 1951.

    Google Scholar 

  • Grützner, P.: Zur Anatomie und Physiologie der quergestreiften Muskeln. Rec. zool. suisse1, 665–684 (1884).

    Google Scholar 

  • Hess, R., D. G. Scarpelli andA. G. E. Pearse: Cytochemical localization of oxidative enzymes. II. Pyridine nucleotide-linked dehydrogenases. J. biophys. biochem. Cytol.4, 753–760 (1958).

    Google Scholar 

  • Knoll, P.: Über protoplasmaarme und protoplasmareiche Muskulatur. Denkschr. Akad. Wiss. Wien, math.-nat. Kl.58, 633–700 (1891).

    Google Scholar 

  • Kölliker, A.: Einige Bemerkungen über die Endigungen der Hautnerven und den Bau der Muskeln. Z. wiss. Zool.8, 311–325 (1857).

    Google Scholar 

  • Lankester, E. R.: Über das Vorkommen von Hämoglobin in den Muskeln der Mollusken und die Verbreitung desselben in den lebendigen Organismen. Pflügers Arch. ges. Physiol.4, 315–324 (1871).

    Google Scholar 

  • Lee, F. S., A. E. Guenther andH. E. Meleney: Some of the general physiological properties of diaphragm muscle as compared with certain other mammalian muscles. Amer. J. Physiol.40, 446–473 (1916).

    Google Scholar 

  • Nachmias, V. T., andH. A. Padykula: A histochemical study of normal and denervated red and white muscles of the rat. J. biophys. biochem. Cytol.4, 47–54 (1958).

    Google Scholar 

  • Ogata, T.: A histochemical study of the red and white muscle fibres. I. Activity of the succinoxydase system in muscle fibres. Acta Med. Okayama12, 216–227 (1958a).

    Google Scholar 

  • —— A histochemical study of the red and white muscle fibres. II. Activity of the cytochrome oxidase in muscle fibres. Acta Med. Okayama12, 228–232 (1958b).

    Google Scholar 

  • Ogata, T.: A histochemical study of the red and white muscle fibres. III. Activity of the diphosphopyridine nucleotide diaphorase in muscle fibres. Acta Med. Okayama12, 233–240 (1958c).

    Google Scholar 

  • Pearse, A. G. E.: Intracellular localization of dehydrogenase systems using monotetrazolium salts and metal chelation of their formazans. J. Histochem. Cytochem.5, 515–527 (1957).

    Google Scholar 

  • —— Histochemistry. Theoretical and Applied, p. 910. London: J. & A. Churchill, Ltd. 1960.

    Google Scholar 

  • Ranvier, L.: Lecons d'Anatomie Generale dur les Systeme Musculaire. Paris: De la Haye 1880.

    Google Scholar 

  • Scarpelli, D. G., R. Hess andA. G. E. Pearse: Cytochemical localization of oxidative enzymes. I. Diphosphopyridine nucleotide diaphorase and triphosphopyridine nucleotide diaphorase. J. biophys. biochem. Cytol.4, 747–752 (1958).

    Google Scholar 

  • Takeuchi, T.: Histochemical demonstration of phosphorylase. J. Histochem. Cytochem.4, 84 (1956).

    Google Scholar 

  • ——, andH. Kuriaka: Histochemical detection of phosphorylase in animal tissues. J. Histochem. Cytochem.3, 153–160 (1955).

    Google Scholar 

  • Wachstein, M. andE. Meisel: The distribution of demonstrable succinic dehydrogenase and of mitochondria in tongue and skeletal muscle. J. biophys. biochem. Cytol.1, 483–488 (1955).

    Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Pathology, Postgraduate Medical School, W 12, London

    V. Dubowitz & A. G. Everson Pearse

Authors
  1. V. Dubowitz
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. A. G. Everson Pearse
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Additional information

With 7 Figures in the Text

In receipt of a research Fellowship from the Muscular Dystrophy Group.

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Dubowitz, V., Pearse, A.G.E. A comparative histochemical study of oxidative enzyme and phosphorylase activity in skeletal muscle. Histochemie 2, 105–117 (1960). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00744575

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00744575

Keywords

Search

Navigation