Distribution of myofiber types in thigh muscles of chickens.

The composition of myofiber types varies within thigh muscles of chickens. The present study was designed to determine whether or not myofiber types were distributed uniformly across the diameter of the thigh muscles of chickens. Cross sections from middle portions of muscles were used histochemically to examine differences in distribution and composition of myofiber types in the muscles. Myofibers that reacted moderately (M) or strongly (S) for myosin adenosine triphosphatase (ATPase) after preincubation at pH 4.3 were classified as type I. Type I myofibers reacted weakly (W), moderately (M), or strongly (S) for ATPase after preincubation at pH 10.6; these type I myofibers were subclassified into four types (I , I , I , and I ). Myofibers that reacted negatively for acid-stable ATPase and strongly for alkali-stable ATPase were classified into two types: type IIA, with strong NADH tetrazolium reductase (NADH-TR), and type IIB, with weak NADH-TR activity. The M. pubo-ischio-femoralis pars lateralis had numerous type IIA myofibers and very few type I myofibers, whereas the pars medialis had many type I myofibers and few type I and IIA myofibers. The type I group of myofibers did not exceed about 50% in the other muscles, which had one to three types of type I , I , and I myofibers. The Mm. femorotibiales had more type I , and I myofibers in the deep regions near the femur than in the superficial regions. The M. iliotibialis cranialis, M. iliofibularis, and M. flexor cruris medialis had more type I , I , or I myofibers in the medial regions than in the lateral regions. A few type I myofibers were scattered in the cranial part of M. iliotibialis and in the M. ambiens. The M. flexor cruris lateralis pars pelvica had type IIA and IIB myofibers exclusively. All the muscles had type IIA myofibers. Type IIB myofibers existed in the muscles except the M. puboischio-femoralis. Type IIA and IIB myofibers differed in proportion in different muscles and in their different regions. The type I group of myofibers was generally concentrated more in the deep regions near the femur and in the medial regions than in the superficial and lateral regions of the thigh muscles. The distribution of type IIA myofibers resembled that of type I group. Type IIB myofibers showed a distribution opposite to that of type I group and IIA myofibers. The spatial distribution of myofiber types within individual muscles can account for the various locomotory and postural requirements of the thigh.