Respiratory capacity of developing chick red and white skeletal muscle.

Oxygen consumption, cytochrome oxidase and succinoxidase activity was measured in samples of leg and breast muscle from chick embryos ranging in age from 11 to 19 days. Respiratory parameters increased significantly in both muscle groups during embryonic life. By the later stages of incubation, leg and breast muscles differed significantly in cytochrome and succinoxidase activity. Oxygen uptake between leg and breast muscles did not differ significantly during later development. The results suggest at least a partial pre-natal differentiation of skeletal muscle in the domestic fowl.