Synopsis
Muscle spindles from skeletal muscles of the rat and the guinea pig were stained to demonstrate their myoglobin content.
Large intrafusal muscle fibres stained strongly for this pigment whilst the small intrafusal fibres showed little staining. This staining pattern contrasts strongly with that of the extrafusal muscle fibres.
It has been suggested that myoglobin may act either as an oxygen storing or as an oxygen transporting pigment. The staining pattern present in muscle spindles indicates that myoglobin may act more as an oxygen transporting pigment than as an oxygen storing pigment.
Similar content being viewed by others
References
Barker, D. &Gidumal, J. (1961). The morphology of intrafusal muscle fibres in the cat.J. Physiol. 157, 513–38.
Bridgman, C., Sweeney, S. &Eldred, E. (1966). The effects of contraction and stretch of a muscle on morphology of its spindles.Anat. Record 166, 67–81.
Chinoy, N. J. (1963). Histochemical localization of myoglobin in the pigeon breast muscle.J. Anim. Morph. Physiol. 10, 74–7.
Chinoy, N. J. &George, J. C. (1964). Cellular organization and certain histophysiological features of the avian abdominal musculature.Pavo 2, 12–25.
Cooper, S. (1960). Muscle spindles and other muscle receptors. InStructure and Function of Muscle (ed. H. G. Bourne), Vol. 1, pp. 381–420. New York: Academic Press.
Dawson, D. M. &Romanul, F. C. A. (1964). Enzymes in muscle. II. Histochemical and quantitative studies.Neurology 11, 369–78.
Drews, G. A. &Engel, W. K. (1961). An attempt at histochemical localization of myoglobin in skeletal muscle by the benzidine-peroxidase reaction.J. Histochem. Cytochem. 9, 206–7.
Goldfischer, S. (1967). The cytochemical localization of myoglobin in striated muscle of man and walrus.J. Cell Biol. 34, 398–403.
Hemmingsen, E. A. (1963). Enhancement of oxygen transport by myoglobin.Comp. Biochem. Physiol. 10, 239–44.
Hill, A. V. (1965). Diffusion of oxygen through tissues.Trails and Trials in Physiology. London: Arnold.
James, N. T. (1968). Histochemical demonstration of myoglobin in skeletal muscle fibres and muscle spindles.Nature, Lond. 219, 1174–5.
James, N. T. (1971). Histochemical demonstration of myoglobin and succinic dehydrogenase in the tibialis anterior of the rabbit.Histochemie 26, 327–32.
Kagen, L. J. &Gurevich, R. (1967). Localization of myoglobin in human skeletal muscle using fluorescent antibody technique.J. Histochem. Cytochem. 15, 436–41.
Landon, D. N. (1966). Electron Microscopy of muscle spindles. InControl and Innervation of Skeletal Muscle (ed. B. L. Andrew), pp. 96–110. Edinburgh: Livingstone.
Matthews, P. B. C. (1964). Muscle spindles and their motor control.Physiol. Rev. 44, 219–88.
Millikan, G. A. (1937). Experiments on muscle haemoglobin.Proc. Roy. Soc. B123, 218–41.
Millikan, G. A. (1939). Muscle haemoglobin.Physiol. Rev. 19, 503–23.
Morita, S., Cassens, R. G. &Briskey, E. J. (1969). The localization of myoglobin in striated muscle of the domestic pig, benzidine and NADH2-TR reactions.Stain Technol. 44, 283–6.
Nene, R. V. &George, J. C. (1965). Histophysiological study of some muscles of the avian pectoral appendage.Pavo 3, 35–46.
Ogata, T. &Mori, M. (1962). Histochemical demonstration of the three types of intrafusal fibres of muscle spindles, a study of oxidative enzymes.Acta Med. Okayama 16, 347–50.
Ogata, T. &Mori, M. (1964). Histochemical study of oxidative enzymes in vertebrate muscles.J. Histochem. Cytochem. 12, 171–82.
Parvis, P. V. &Castelli, G. (1966). Differenze Istochimicamente Rilevabile tra diverse tipi di fibre Muscolari.Bollettino della Società 41, 1842–5.
Porayko, O. &Smith, R. S. (1968). Morphology of muscle spindles in the rat.Experientia 24, 588–9.
Romanul, F. C. A. (1965). Capillary supply and metabolism of muscle fibres.Archs. Neurol. 12, 497–509.
Scholander, P. F. (1960). Oxygen transport through haemoglobin solutions.Science 131, 585–90.
Scholander, P. F., Irving, L. &Grinell, S. W. (1942). Aerobic and anaerobic changes in seal muscles during diving.J. biol. Chem. 142, 431–40.
Sissons, H. A. (1965). Further investigations on muscle fibre size. InResearch in Muscular Dystrophy. pp. 107–15. London: Pitman Medical.
Smith, B. &O'Grady, F. (1966). Experimental chloroquine myopathy.J. Neurol. Neurosurg. Psychiat. 29, 255–8.
Theorell, H. (1934). Kristallinisches Myoglobin. V. Mitteilung: Die sauerstoffbindungskurve des myoglobins.Biochem. Z. 268, 73–82.
Wirsen, C. (1964). Histochemical heterogeneity of muscle spindle fibres.J. Histochem. Cytochem. 12, 308–9.
Wittenberg, J. B. (1959). Oxygen transport—a new function proposed for myoglobin.Biol. Bull. 117, 402–3.
Wittenberg, J. B. (1967). Myoglobin facilitated diffusion of oxygen.J. gen. Physiol. 49, 57–74.
Wyman, J. (1966). Facilitated diffusion and the possible role of myoglobin as a transport mechanism.J. biol. Chem. 241, 115–21.
Yellin, H. (1969). A histochemical study of muscle spindles and their relationship to extrafusal fibres in the rat.Am. J. Anat. 125, 31–45.
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
James, N.T. The histochemical demonstration of myoglobin in muscle spindles. Histochem J 3, 333–338 (1971). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF01005015
Received:
Revised:
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF01005015