HISTOCHEMICAL AND MORPHOMETRIC STUDY OF T HE FIBRILAR POPULATION IN DIAPHRAGM MUSCLE .2. OX AND PIG

M-ATPase techniques, at different pH levels prior to incubation, as we ll as metabolic procedures (alpha-MGPDH and NADH-TR), were used to det ermine the fibre-type content of the lumbar and costal portions in the bovine and porcine diaphragm. The fibre samples were exposed to image analysis in order to evaluate both the morphometrical and statistical values. On the basis of tintorial reactions, the fibre types IA, IB a nd IIC were found in the lumbar portion of the bovine diaphragm; in th e costal portion of the same diaphragm, IA, IB, IIA and IIC fibre type s were observed. With regard to the porcine diaphragm, the I, IIA, IIB , IIC fibre types were present in both portions of the muscle. Further morphometrical and statistical data concerning all the fibre types ar e obtained and discussed.