Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

Contractile properties of a white- and a red-fibre type of the m. hyohyoideus of the carp (Cyprinus carpio L.)

  • Published:
Journal of comparative physiology Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Summary

Isometric contraction parameters were measured for white and red fibre bundles isolated from the m. hyohyoideus of the carp. The two fibre types, which have multiterminal innervation, were stimulated via the nerve as well as epimuscularly. Both red and white fibres reacted to a single stimulus with a twitch. Stimulation via the nerve revealed:

  1. 1.

    Twitches and tetani of white fibres have shorter contraction and relaxation times than those of red fibres.

  2. 2.

    Both types reach similar maximal tetanic tensions (about 12 N/cm2) but red fibres require a higher stimulus frequency to reach this tension.

  3. 3.

    The ratio of twitch tension to maximum tetanic tension is 0.42 for white and 0.27 for red fibres.

  4. 4.

    The maximum slope of tension rise in white fibres is independent of the stimulus frequency; in red fibres it increases at high stimulus frequencies.

  5. 5.

    White fibres are more susceptible to fatigue than red fibres. After about 45 s of repeated tetanization (22 tetani) white fibres had lost half their tension. Red fibres had lost half their tension after about 10 min (300 tetani).

  6. 6.

    Sag, the decline of tension during a tetanus, is greater in white than in red fibres. It has a different frequency dependence in both types.

  7. 7.

    Epimuscular stimulation resulted in a slow, incomplete contraction and a very slow decline of tension, especially in red fibres.

  8. 8.

    In agreement with existing biochemical, electromyographical and ultrastructural data, white fibres are adapted for quick short duration activity and red fibres for slow, sustained activity.

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

  • Akster HA (1981) Ultrastructure of muscle fibres in head and axial muscles of the perch (Perca fluviatilis L.). A quantitative study. Cell Tissue Res 219:111–131

    Google Scholar 

  • Akster HA, Osse JWM (1978) Muscle fibre types in head muscles of the perchPerca fluviatilis L., Teleostei. A histochemical and electromyographical study. Neth J Zool 28:94–110

    Google Scholar 

  • Ballintijn CM (1969a) Functional anatomy and movement coordination of the respiratory pump of the carp (Cyprinus carpio L.). J Exp Biol 50:547–567

    Google Scholar 

  • Ballintijn CM (1969b) Muscle co-ordination of the respiratory pump of the carp (Cyprinus carpio L.). J Exp Biol 50:569–591

    Google Scholar 

  • Bárány M (1967) ATPase activity of myosin correlated with speed of muscle shortening. J Gen Physiol 50:197–218

    Google Scholar 

  • Barends PGM (1979) The relation between fibre type composition and function in the jaw adductor muscle of the perch (Perca fluviatilis L.). A histochemical study. Proc Kon Ned Akad Wet [C] 82:147–154

    Google Scholar 

  • Barets A (1961) Contribution à l'étude des systèmes moteurs “lent” et “rapide” du muscle latéral des téléostéens. Arch Anat Morphol Exp 50 (Suppl):97–187

    Google Scholar 

  • Blinks JR, Rüdel R, Taylor SR (1978) Calcium transients in isolated amphibian skeletal muscle fibres: detection with aequorin. J Physiol 277:291–323

    Google Scholar 

  • Bone Q (1966) On the function of the two types of myotomal muscle fibre in Elasmobranch fish. J Mar Biol Assoc UK 46:321–349

    Google Scholar 

  • Bone Q (1978) Locomotor muscle. In: Hoar WS, Randall DJ (eds) Fish physiology, vol VII. Academic Press, New York, pp 361–424

    Google Scholar 

  • Bone Q, Kiceniuk J, Jones DR (1978) On the role of the different fibre types in fish myotomes at intermediate swimming speeds. Fish Bull 76:691–699

    Google Scholar 

  • Buller AJ, Lewis DM (1965) The rate of tension development in isometric tetanic contraction of mammalian fast and slow skeletal muscle. J Physiol (Lond) 176:337–354

    Google Scholar 

  • Burke RE, Levine DN, Tsairis P, Zajack FE (1973) Physiological types and histochemical profiles in motor units of the cat gastrocnemius. J Physiol (Lond) 234:723–748

    Google Scholar 

  • Burke RE, Rudomin P, Zajack FE (1976) The effect of activation history on tension production by individual muscle units. Brain Res 109:515–529

    Google Scholar 

  • Close RJ (1972) Dynamic properties of mammalian skeletal muscles. Physiol Rev 52:129–197

    Google Scholar 

  • Focant B, Huriaux F, Johnston IA (1976) Subunit composition of fish myofibrils: The light chains of myosin. Int J Biochem 7:129–133

    Google Scholar 

  • Flitney FW, Johnston IA (1979) Mechanical properties of isolated fish red and white muscle fibres. J Physiol (Lond) 295:49P-50P

    Google Scholar 

  • Gainer H, Klancher JE (1965) Neuromuscular junctions in a fast-contracting fish muscle. Comp Biochem Physiol 15:159–165

    Google Scholar 

  • Gainer H, Kiyoshi Kusano, Mathewson RF (1965) Electrophysiological and mechanical properties of squirrelfish sound-producing muscle. Comp Biochem Physiol 14:661–671

    Google Scholar 

  • Gerday C, Gillis JM (1976) The possible role of parvalbumin in the control of contraction. J Physiol (Lond) 258:96P-97P

    Google Scholar 

  • Hagiwara S, Takahashi K (1967) Resting and spike potentials of skeletal muscle fibres of salt water elasmobranch and teleost fish. J Physiol (Lond) 190:499–518

    Google Scholar 

  • Hamoir G, Gerardin-Otthiers N, Grodent V, VandeWalle P (1981) Sarcoplasmic differentation of head muscles of the carpCyprimus carpio (Pisces Cypriniformes). Mol Physiol 1:45–58

    Google Scholar 

  • Hidaka T, Toida N (1969) Biophysical and mechanical properties of red and white muscle fibres in fish. J Physiol 201:49–59

    Google Scholar 

  • Houston AH, Madden JA, De Wilde MA (1970) Environmental temperature and the body fluid system of the fresh-water teleost. IV Water-electrolyte regulation in thermally acclimated carpCyprinus carpio. Comp Biochem Physiol 34:805–818

    Google Scholar 

  • Hudson RCL (1969) Polyneural innervation of the fast muscles of the marine teleostCottus scorpius L. J Exp Biol 50:47–67

    Google Scholar 

  • Hudson RCL (1973) On the function of the white muscles in teleosts at intermediate swimming speeds. J Exp Biol 58:509–522

    Google Scholar 

  • Johnston IA (1980) Contractile properties of fish fast muscle fibres. Marine Biol Lett 1:323–328

    Google Scholar 

  • Johnston IA (1981) Structure and function of fish muscles. Symp Zool Soc (Lond) 48:71–113

    Google Scholar 

  • Johnston IA (1982) Biochemistry of myosins and contractile properties of fish skeletal muscle. Mol Physiol 2:15–29

    Google Scholar 

  • Johnston IA, Moon TW (1980a) Exercise training in skeletal muscle of brook trout (Savelinus fontinalis). J Exp Biol 87:177–194

    Google Scholar 

  • 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

    Google Scholar 

  • Johnston IA, Davison W, Goldspink G (1977) Energy metabolism of carp swimming muscles. J Comp Physiol 144:203–216

    Google Scholar 

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

    Google Scholar 

  • McArdle HJ, Johnston IA (1981) Ca2+-uptake by tissue sections and biochemical characteristics of sarcoplasmic reticulum isolated from fish fast and slow muscles. Eur J Cell Biol 25:103–107

    Google Scholar 

  • Nachlas NM, Kwan-Chung Tsou, De Souza E, Chao-Shing Cheng, Seligman AM (1957) Cytochemical demonstration of succinic dehydrogenase by the use of a new p-nitrophenyl substituted ditetrazole. J Histochem Cytochem 5:420–436

    Google Scholar 

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

    Google Scholar 

  • Patterson S, Johnston IA, Goldspink G (1975) A histochemical study of the lateral muscles of five teleost species. J Fish Biol 7:159–166

    Google Scholar 

  • Raamsdonk W van, Te Kronnie G, Pool CW, van de Laarsse W (1980) An immune histochemical and enzymic characterization of the muscle fibres in myotomal muscle of the teleostBrachidanio rerio Hamilton-Buchanan. Acta Histochem 67:200–216

    Google Scholar 

  • Ranatunga KW (1978) Characteristics of tension recruitment and mechanical activation in mammalian skeletal muscle. Exp Neurol 61:175–184

    Google Scholar 

  • Somlyo AP, Somlyo AV, Gonzalez-Serratos H, Shuman H, McClelland G (1980) The sarcoplasmic reticulum and its composition in resting and in contracting muscle. In: Ebashi S, Maruyama E, Endo M (eds) Muscle contraction; its regulatory mechanisms. Jpn Sci Soc Press, Tokyo. Springer, Berlin Heidelberg New York, pp 421–433

    Google Scholar 

  • Takeuchi A (1959) Neuromuscular transmission of fish skeletal muscles investigated with intracellular microelectrodes. J Cell Comp Physiol 54:211–220

    Google Scholar 

  • Vetter B (1878) Kiemen- und Kiefermusculatur der Fische: C Knochenfische. Jena Z Naturwiss 12:431–550

    Google Scholar 

  • Wallinga-de Jonge W, Boom HBK, Boon KL, Griep PAM, Lammerée GC (1980) The force development of fast and slow skeletal muscle at different muscle lengths. Am J Physiol 239:C98–C104

    Google Scholar 

  • Wardle CS (1975) Limit of fish swimming speed. Nature 255:725–727

    Google Scholar 

  • Yamamoto T (1972) Electrical and mechanical properties of the red and white muscles in the silver carp. J Exp Biol 57:551–567

    Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Experimental Animal Morphology and Cellbiology, Agricultural University Wageningen, Marijkeweg 40, Wageningen, The Netherlands

    H. L. M. Granzier, H. A. Akster & J. W. M. Osse

  2. Department of Animal Physiology, Agricultural University Wageningen, Haarweg 10, Wageningen, The Netherlands

    J. Wiersma

Authors
  1. H. L. M. Granzier
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. J. Wiersma
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  3. H. A. Akster
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  4. J. W. M. Osse
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Granzier, H.L.M., Wiersma, J., Akster, H.A. et al. Contractile properties of a white- and a red-fibre type of the m. hyohyoideus of the carp (Cyprinus carpio L.). J Comp Physiol B 149, 441–449 (1983). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00690001

Download citation

  • Accepted:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00690001

Keywords

Search

Navigation