Fiber type and regional differences in oxidative capacity and glycogen content in the hamster diaphragm.

The purpose of this study was to define variability of the oxidative capacity and glycogen content between different fiber types and regions of the hamster diaphragm. Using histochemical and microphotometric techniques, the oxidative capacity (identified by nicotinamide-adenine dinucleotide tetrazolium reductase reaction end product) and glycogen levels (identified by the periodic acid-Schiff stain test) were examined in three myofibrillar ATPase (M-ATPase) fiber types and four diaphragmatic regions: sternal, anterior costal, thoracic surface of the crural (thor/crur), and abdominal surface of the crural (abd/crur). Most regional differences were found between the crus and the rest of the diaphragm. There were no differences in the oxidative capacity between diaphragmatic regions in the types 1 and 2a fibers, but the type 2b fibers in the thor/crur region had the greatest oxidative capacity and the 2b fiber in the sternal region had the lowest oxidative capacity. There were differences in glycogen content between diaphragmatic regions for all of the three M-ATPase fiber types. Variability in oxidative capacity between fiber types was demonstrated in all regions except the thor/crur region. Variation in glycogen content between fiber types was only demonstrated in the two surfaces of the crus. The type 2b fiber demonstrated the most differences from types 1 and 2a fibers in oxidative capacity and glycogen content in the different diaphragmatic regions, whereas the types 1 and 2a fibers demonstrated few differences from each other in these features across the different diaphragmatic regions.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)