Effects of age on the number and histochemical properties of muscle fibers and motoneurons in the rat extensor digitorum longus muscle.

The number and histochemical properties of muscle fibers and motoneurons were studied in the extensor digitorum longus muscle in female albino rats at the ages of 10, 60 and 120 weeks. The number of fast twitch glycolytic (FG) fibers was decreased at 60 weeks, while that of fast twitch oxidative glycolytic (FOG) fibers was decreased at 120 weeks. The number and oxidative enzyme activity of motoneurons were decreased later at 120 weeks. Thus, it is suggested that the decrease in FG fibers at 60 weeks was due to selective muscle fiber atrophy or to degeneration of neuromuscular junctions, while on the other hand, the decrease in FOG fibers at 120 weeks was due mainly to both a decrease in motoneurons and a type shift of fibers from FOG to FG.