Effects of porcine somatotropin administration on porcine muscles located within different regions of the body.

This research was conducted to evaluate the characteristics of muscle fiber growth and the effects of porcine somatotropin (pST; 100 micrograms.kg-1 BW.d-1) administration on the morphology of 12 muscles located in different regions of the body in barrows growing from 20 to 90 kg BW. In the course of the growth of control pigs, the percentage distribution of beta R fibers did not show any changes in all 12 muscles, whereas the percentage of alpha R and alpha W fibers changed in different patterns in different muscles. The administration of pST had no effect on fiber type distribution. The cross-sectional area of alpha W fibers was the largest of the three fiber types, and beta R and alpha R fibers were of similar size in all muscles. All fiber types in all muscles increased in cross-sectional area by an average of 120% from 20 to 60 kg BW. After 60 kg BW, the growth of alpha W fibers in seven (early maturing) muscles and alpha R fibers in one muscle out of the 12 muscles was not apparent. The increase of their cross-sectional area was an average of 12%, but the area of the other muscle fibers continued to increase by an average of 38% until 90 kg BW. The administration of pST increased the area of alpha W fibers in four out of seven of these early-maturing muscles by an average of 25%, suggesting some possible relationships between pST effects and the rate of muscle fiber maturation. Most of the muscles that responded to pST treatment were located in hindlimb region.