X-ray microanalytical studies on native myofibrils and mitochondria isolated by microdissection from honey-bee flight muscle.

The distribution of elements was studied by means of energy dispersive X ray microanalysis in the honey-bee flight muscle. Semi-quantitative analysis of bulk muscle specimen, isolated mitochondria and isolated myofibrils either in resting or stretched state was performed. High K peak was observed in the spectra of bulk muscle specimen resembling the spectra of myofibrils and high P peak resembling the spectra of mitochondria. In the myofibrils no substantial difference was found between the spectra of A bands and Z lines, but they contained much higher K peak than the spectra of I bands.